Kunzea capitata | |
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Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Australia | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Myrtales |
Family: | Myrtaceae |
Genus: | Kunzea |
Species: | K. capitata |
Binomial name | |
Kunzea capitata | |
Synonyms | |
Metrosideros capitata Sm. |
Kunzea capitata is a shrub species in the family Myrtaceae. It is native to New South Wales in Australia. [2]
The species has a spreading or erect habit and may grow up to 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) in height, but is usually within the range of 0.5–1 metre (1 ft 8 in – 3 ft 3 in). [3] Flowers are pink to purple, or occasionally white. These are produced on the branch ends in "heads". [2] Leaves are 3.5–9 millimetres (0.14–0.35 in) long and 1.5–4.5 millimetres (0.059–0.177 in) wide, with recurved tips and 1 millimetre (0.039 in) long petioles. [2]
The species was first formally described by English botanist James Smith in 1797 in Transactions of the Linnean Society of London , and given the name Metrosideos capitata. [1] The species epithet capitata is derived from the Latin word caput (head), alluding to the arrangement of the flowers. [3]
It was transferred to the genus Kunzea in 1846 by German botanist Gustav Heynhold. [1]
The species occurs in heathland and dry sclerophyll forest from the Ulladulla district northward to Richmond River. [2]
The species prefers a moist soil in a lightly shaded to sunny position. [3] It is readily propagated by either seed or cuttings. [3]
Kunzea is a genus of plants in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to Australasia. They are shrubs, sometimes small trees and usually have small, crowded, rather aromatic leaves. The flowers are similar to those of plants in the genus Leptospermum but differ in having stamens that are longer than the petals. Most kunzeas are endemic to Western Australia but a few occur in eastern Australia and a few are found in New Zealand. The taxonomy of the genus is not settled and is complicated by the existence of a number of hybrids.
Crowea saligna, commonly known as willow-leaved crowea, is a plant in the rue family, Rutaceae and is endemic to eastern New South Wales in Australia. It is a small shrub with attractive, pink, star-shaped flowers and is commonly cultivated.
Brachychiton rupestris, commonly known as the narrow-leaved bottle tree or Queensland bottle tree, is a tree in the family Malvaceae native to Queensland, Australia. Discovered and described by Sir Thomas Mitchell and John Lindley in 1848, it gained its name from its bulbous trunk, which can be up to 3.5 metres (11 ft) diameter at breast height (DBH). Reaching 10–25 metres (33–82 ft) high, the Queensland bottle tree is deciduous, losing its leaves between September and December. The leaves are simple or divided, with one or more narrow leaf blades up to 11 centimetres (4 in) long and 2 centimetres (0.8 in) wide. Cream-coloured flowers appear from September to November, and are followed by woody boat-shaped follicles that ripen from November to May. No subspecies are recognised.
Isopogon anemonifolius, commonly known as broad-leaved drumsticks, is a shrub of the family Proteaceae that is native only to eastern New South Wales in Australia. It occurs naturally in woodland, open forest, and heathland on sandstone soils. I. anemonifolius usually ranges between one and two metres in height, and is generally smaller in exposed heathland. Its leaves are divided and narrow, though broader than those of the related Isopogon anethifolius, and have a purplish tinge during the cooler months. The yellow flowers appear during late spring or early summer and are displayed prominently. They are followed by round grey cones, which give the plant its common name drumsticks. The small hairy seeds are found in the old flower parts.
Acacia paradoxa is a plant in the family Fabaceae. Its common names include kangaroo acacia, kangaroo thorn, prickly wattle, hedge wattle and paradox acacia.
Kunzea ericifolia, commonly known as spearwood, native tree or yellow kunzea, or as kitja boorn, poorndil or condil by the Noongar people, is an erect woody evergreen shrub that is endemic to Western Australia. It has soft green linear leaves and spherical heads of usually yellow flowers in spring.
Kunzea ambigua, commonly known as white kunzea, poverty bush or tick bush, is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is found mainly on sandstone soils in eastern Australia. Growing up to 5 m (16 ft) high and wide, it bears small white flowers in spring. Used in native gardening, it attracts native insects. It is also used in amenities planting and sand dune stabilization.
Senecio tamoides, also known as Canary creeper, is a climbing member of the genus Senecio of the family Asteraceae that is native to Southern Africa. It is used as an ornamental plant for its showy yellow, daisy-like flowers in autumn.
Myoporum parvifolium, commonly known as creeping boobialla, creeping myoporum, dwarf native myrtle or small leaved myoporum is a plant in the figwort family, Scrophulariaceae. It is a low, spreading shrub with long, trailing stems and white, star-shaped flowers and is endemic to southern Australia including Flinders Island.
Kunzea 'Badja Carpet' is a cultivar of Kunzea badjaensis. It is a low-growing shrub of the family Myrtaceae found in the southeastern tablelands of New South Wales, Australia. It is similar to Kunzea capitata, but it has a lower growth form and white rather than pink flowers. Because of these differences it has been described as a distinct species. The species had previously been known as Kunzea sp. 'Wadbilliga'.
Hakea macraeana, commonly known as the willow needlewood or Macrae's hakea, is a species of shrub native to eastern Australia. The species was first formally described by botanist Ferdinand von Mueller in 1886 in the Australian Journal of Pharmacy. The species name honours one George Macrae, who aided the original collector William Baeuerlen.
Conospermum caeruleum, commonly known as blue brother, is a shrub in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to the south west of Western Australia. It is a prostrate shrub with small, dense heads of blue, rarely pink flowers and usually grows in heavy soils subject to flooding.
Styphelia viridis, commonly called green five corners, is a plant in the family Ericaceae and is endemic to the east coast of Australia. It owes its common name to the appearance of its fruit - a drupe with a flat top and five distinct ribs, and to the colour of its flowers. The flowers appear in autumn and winter and are a source of food for honeyeaters.
Persoonia terminalis, also known as the Torrington geebung, is a shrub belonging to the family Proteaceae, and native to northern New South Wales and southern Queensland in eastern Australia. Reported as a subspecies of Persoonia nutans in 1981, it was described as a species by Lawrie Johnson and his colleague Peter Weston in 1991.
Acacia oswaldii, commonly known as boree, umbrella wattle, umbrella bush, whyacka, middia, miljee, nella and curly yarran, is a shrub or tree of the genus Acacia and the subgenus Plurinerves.
Hakea actites, commonly known as the mulloway needle bush or wallum hakea is a shrub or tree of the Proteacea family native to areas in north eastern New South Wales and south eastern Queensland. White nectar rich flowers appear in abundance from late autumn to early spring.
Hakea constablei is a shrub in the Proteacea family native to eastern Australia. A bushy shrub or small tree with a profusion of white or cream flowers in spring.
Grevillea uniformis is a shrub of the genus Grevillea native to a small area along the west coast in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia.
Kunzea rupestris, the rocky kunzea, is a rare Australian plant in the myrtle family. There are some 20 known populations, all just north of Sydney, including Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park and Marramarra National Park. Threats to this species include track maintenance, invasive weeds, removal of rocks and sand, fire management and the cut flower industry.
Muraltia heisteria is a shrub in the milkwort family (Polygalaceae) which is native to South Africa and is cultivated in Australia. It was first described in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus.