Kunzea pomifera

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Muntries
Kunzea pomifera flowers.jpg
Kunzea pomifera in the ANBG
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Kunzea
Species:
K. pomifera
Binomial name
Kunzea pomifera

Kunzea pomifera, commonly known as muntries, emu apples, native cranberries, munthari, muntaberry or monterry [2] [3] (from Tanganekald Ngarrindjeri mantari [4] ), is a low-growing or prostrate shrub with hairy stems, small, mostly egg-shaped leaves, groups of white flowers on the ends of the branches and fleshy, more or less spherical, edible fruit.

Contents

fruit Kunzea pomifera.jpg
fruit

Description

Kunzea pomifera is a low-growing or prostrate shrub with hairy young stems and that often develops roots along its main branches. Its leaves are arranged alternately and are egg-shaped to elliptic or almost round with a downturned point on the end. The leaves are 3–8 mm (0.1–0.3 in) long, 3–6 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide on a petiole 0.5–1.5 mm (0.02–0.06 in) long. The flowers are white to cream-coloured, arranged in groups of mainly between three and eight near the ends of the main branches. There are oblong to more or less round bracts covered with silky hairs at the base of the flowers and almost reaching the top of the floral cup. The sepals are brown, triangular and 1.5–2 mm (0.06–0.08 in) long. The petals are egg-shaped to almost round, 1–2 mm (0.04–0.08 in) long. The stamens are white and 4–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and the style is 5–9 mm (0.2–0.4 in) long. The fruit is fleshy, more or less spherical, 8–12 mm (0.3–0.5 in) in diameter, deep red to purple or black when mature. [5] [6] [7]

Taxonomy and naming

Kunzea pomifera was first formally described in 1855 by Ferdinand von Mueller from specimens collected "on the sandy shores and on rocks at St. Vincent's Gulf and Rivoli Bay. The description was published in Mueller's book, Definitions of rare or hitherto undescribed Australian plants. [8] [9] The specific epithet (pomifera) is derived from the Latin words pomum meaning "fruit of any kind" or "apple" [10] : 97  and fero meaning "to cover or bear". [10] : 187 

Distribution and habitat

Muntries grows in Victoria and South Australia. In Victoria it grows mainly in sandy soil in the Little Desert and Big Desert and small populations between Portland and Nelson. In South Australia it grows in sandy soil, often with limestone, between the Yorke Peninsula and the Victorian border. [6] [7]

Uses

The berries produced by these plants are about 1 centimetre (0.39 in) in diameter, green with a tinge of red at maturity and have a flavour of a spicy apple. Crunchy in texture, muntries contain up to four times more antioxidants than blueberries [11] and provide natural waxes that are good for skin nourishment. [12]

Cultivation

Kunzea pomifera was grown in England in 1889. It was one of the first species of Australian plant introduced into cultivation in England. [13]

Trellising

While muntries are a groundcover in the wild, commercial growers have successfully managed to trellis the plants. Trellised muntries allow easier access for harvesting and management. It also allows a more efficient use of orchard space.

Muntrie plants can be trained quite easily through weaving the growing plant through and along trellis wires, using plant ties to secure them.

Soil requirements

Muntries seem to prefer well drained soil of a moderately acid to strongly alkaline pH (6.0 - 8.0). [14]

Water requirements

Natural rainfall levels of wild populations range from 500–800 millimetres (20–31 in). [14] For cultivation it is suggested that waterlogging and extremely dry soils should both be avoided. Moderate restriction of water in the early spring may be beneficial in stimulating flowering and reducing competitive vegetative growth.

Anecdotal evidence suggests that overwatering muntries may result in a dilution of flavour in the muntrie berries.

Related Research Articles

<i>Kunzea salina</i> Species of flowering plant

Kunzea salina is a species of flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south of Western Australia. It is a low, spreading, densely branched shrub with leaves mostly arranged in opposite pairs and usually two sessile pale pink to white flowers arranged at the base of new shoots. It only grows near the edge of certain salt lakes.

<i>Bauera sessiliflora</i> Species of flowering plant

Bauera sessiliflora, also known as Grampians bauera, is a species of flowering plant in the family Cunoniaceae and is endemic to the Grampians region in Victoria, Australia. It is a scrambling shrub with wiry branches, trifoliate leaves and pink or magenta flowers.

<i>Kunzea pulchella</i> Species of flowering plant

Kunzea pulchella, commonly known as granite kunzea, is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a shrub with spreading branches, egg-shaped to lance-shaped leaves and loose groups of red flowers, each on a short stalk so that the branch is visible between the flowers.

<i>Kunzea baxteri</i> Species of flowering plant

Kunzea baxteri, commonly known as scarlet kunzea, is a flowering plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae, and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia where it occurs near granite outcrops and hills. It is a shrub with large, scarlet, bottlebrush-like flower clusters, making it popular as a garden feature.

<i>Homoranthus wilhelmii</i> Species of plant

Homoranthus wilhelmii, commonly known as the eastern feather flower, is a species of flowering plant in the family Myrtaceae and is endemic to South Australia. It is a small, spreading shrub with cylindrical to flattened leaves and white or pink flowers arranged in corymbs on the ends of branchlets. The distribution includes an area on the Yorke Peninsula, but it is most common on the southern Eyre Peninsula.

Kunzea peduncularis, commonly known as mountain burgan, is a flowering plant in Myrtaceae, the myrtle family, and is endemic to Victoria, Australia. It is usually a dense shrub and has lance-shaped to egg-shaped leaves with the narrower end towards the base. Dense groups of white flowers appear in early summer.

<i>Boronia algida</i> Species of flowering plant

Boronia algida, commonly known as alpine boronia, is a flowering plant in the citrus family, Rutaceae and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is an erect shrub with many branches, pinnate leaves and white to bright pink, four-petalled flowers usually borne singly on the ends of branches.

<i>Kunzea parvifolia</i> Species of flowering plant

Kunzea parvifolia, commonly known as the violet kunzea, is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is a wiry shrub with small, narrow leaves and clusters of pink to purple flowers in spring.

<i>Persoonia procumbens</i> Species of shrub

Persoonia procumbens is a plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to part of the New England Tableland. It is a prostrate shrub with rather fleshy, relatively large leaves and small groups of cylindrical yellow flowers. It is similar to P. daphnoides but has darker hairs on the young branches and smaller, less hairy flowers.

<i>Kunzea muelleri</i> Species of flowering plant

Kunzea muelleri, commonly known as yellow kunzea, is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to mountainous areas of south-eastern Australia. It is a low-growing, spreading shrub with linear leaves and small groups of pale yellow, stalkless flowers that appear in the summer.

Kunzea affinis is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a shrub with many branches, small crowded leaves, and five-petalled pink flowers in early spring.

<i>Kunzea obovata</i> Species of shrub

Kunzea obovata is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is a spreading shrub with unusually-shaped leaves and clusters of pink to purple flowers. It is restricted to northern New South Wales and south-eastern Queensland.

<i>Kunzea badjaensis</i> Species of shrub

Kunzea badjaensis is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to a small area of New South Wales. It is a shrub with egg-shaped leaves and clusters of white flowers near the end of the branches. It grows at high altitudes on the Southern Tablelands.

Kunzea calida is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to Queensland, Australia. It is a spreading shrub which has linear to lance-shaped leaves but which are rolled, making them appear cylindrical. The flowers are pinkish-purple and arranged in groups near the ends of the branches in September. It is only known in remote and rugged areas of the Mount Stewart Ranges near Homestead.

Kunzea dactylota is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to a small area of New South Wales. It is a spreading shrub with small, finger-shaped leaves and clusters of white flowers near the end of the branches. It grows at high altitudes on the Southern Tablelands of the state.

<i>Kunzea flavescens</i> Species of shrub

Kunzea flavescens is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to Queensland. It is a spreading shrub which has egg-shaped leaves and groups of white or cream-coloured flowers on the ends of the branches in September and October.

<i>Kunzea opposita</i> Species of shrub

Kunzea opposita is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is a spindly shrub which has small leaves arranged in opposite pairs, and pink flowers with five petals and many stamens, the stamens much longer than the petals. It usually grows in woodland or on exposed cliffs.

Kunzea petrophila is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the Northern Territory. It is a spreading shrub with hairy branches and leaves, narrow leaves and cream-coloured flowers in more or less spherical groups, usually on the ends of the main branches.

Kunzea sericothrix is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to Queensland. It is a small shrub with linear to lance-shaped leaves. It is only known from a single collection, and the details of its flowers are provisional.

<i>Pultenaea subalpina</i> Species of plant


Pultenaea subalpina, commonly known as rosy bush-pea, is a species of flowering plant in the family Fabaceae and is endemic to a restricted area of Victoria. It is a rigid, prostrate to erect or spreading shrub with linear leaves and pink, pea-like flowers.

References

  1. ↑ "Kunzea pomifera". APC. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  2. ↑ Gott, Beth (1982). "Kunzea pomifera - Dawson's 'nurt'". The Artefact. 7: 13–17.
  3. ↑ Graham, C. and D. Hart (1997). Prospects for the Australian native bushfood industry. RIRDC.
  4. ↑ Tindale, Norman B. (1974). Aboriginal Tribes of Australia: Their Terrain, Environmental Controls, Distribution, Limits, and Proper Names. Canberra: Australian National University Press. pp. 18, 23. ISBN   0-7081-0741-9.
  5. ↑ Toelken, Helmut R. (2016). "Revision of Kunzea" (Myrtaceae). 2. Subgenera Angasomyrtus and Salisia (section Salisia) from Western Australian and subgenera Kunzea and Niviferae (sections Platyphyllae and Pallidiflorae) from eastern Australia" (PDF). Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens. 29: 93–96. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
  6. 1 2 Jeanes, Jeff. "Kunzea pomifera". Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
  7. 1 2 "Kunzea pomifera". State Herbarium of South Australia. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
  8. ↑ "Kunzea pomifera". APNI. Retrieved 27 March 2019.
  9. ↑ von Mueller, Ferdinand (1855). Definitions of rare or hitherto undescribed Australian plants. Melbourne: Goodhugh & Trembath. p. 44. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
  10. 1 2 Brown, Roland Wilbur (1956). The Composition of Scientific Words. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.
  11. ↑ Do, Chi M.; Delaporte, Kate L.; Pagay, Vinay; Schultz, Carolyn J. (November 2018). "Salinity Tolerance of Muntries (Kunzea pomifera F. Muell.), a Native Food Crop in Australia". HortScience. 53 (11): 1562–1569. doi: 10.21273/HORTSCI13280-18 .
  12. ↑ "Meet the Muntries - a "super fruit" of the Australian bush". GAYOT - The Guide to the Good Life. 2009-05-14. Archived from the original on 2009-05-14. Retrieved 19 August 2020.
  13. ↑ Elliot, Rodger W.; Jones, David L.; Blake, Trevor (1993). Encyclopaedia of Australian Plants Suitable for Cultivation: Volume 6 (K-M). Port Melbourne: Lothian Press. p. 15. ISBN   0-85091-589-9.
  14. 1 2 Hele, A. (2001). Muntries production. Australian Native Produce Industries Pty Ltd, Primary Industries and Resources SA.
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