Kunzea spathulata

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Kunzea spathulata
Kunzea spathulata.jpg
Kunzea spathulata flowers and foliage
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Kunzea
Species:
K. spathulata
Binomial name
Kunzea spathulata
habit near Augusta Kunzea spathulata habit.jpg
habit near Augusta

Kunzea spathulata is a species of flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to a small area in the south west of Western Australia. It is a tall shrub with erect, much-branched stems, linear leaves and more or less spherical groups of yellow or yellowish green flowers.

Contents

Description

Kunzea spathulata is a tall, glabrous shrub or small tree that typically grows to a height of 4.5 m (15 ft) with erect stems that have many ascending branches. The leaves are linear, 5–7 mm (0.20–0.28 in) long and about 0.5 mm (0.020 in) wide on a petiole 0.4–0.8 mm (0.016–0.031 in) long and more or less pressed against the stem. The flowers are arranged in more or less spherical groups of between ten and eighteen, mostly on the ends of the branches. There are egg-shaped bracts and pairs of bracteoles at the base of the flowers. The sepals are egg-shaped to triangular and 0.5–0.7 mm (0.020–0.028 in) long. The petals are yellow or yellowish green, egg-shaped to almost round and 1.6–2 mm (0.063–0.079 in) long. There are between 26 and 30 stamens 2.5–3 mm (0.098–0.118 in) long, in several whorls. Flowering occurs in October and November. [1] [2]

Taxonomy and naming

Kunzea spathulata was first formally described in 1996 by Hellmut R. Toelken from a specimen collected near Nannup and the description was published in the Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens . [3] [1] The specific epithet (spathulata) refers to the spatula-shaped bracteoles of this kunzea. [1]

Distribution and habitat

This kunzea is found around marshes and swampy areas, mainly near Augusta and Nannup. [1] [2]

Conservation status

Kunzea spathulata is classified as "not threatened" by the Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife. [2]

Related Research Articles

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kunzea pauciflora, the Mount Melville kunzea, is a species of flowering plant in the myrtle family Myrtaceae, and is endemic to a small area on the south coast of Western Australia. It is a shrub with the stems densely branched near their ends, linear leaves and one, two or three pink flowers near the ends of the branches but usually only at the top of the shrub.

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

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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.

Kunzea juniperoides is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to a small area of New South Wales. It is a small shrub with narrow leaves and small groups of white flowers near the end of the longer branches. It is distinguished from similar kunzeas by the large number of scale-like perules and bracts surrounding the groups of flowers.

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

Kunzea occidentalis is a flowering plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to a western New South Wales. It is a shrub with narrow leaves and small groups of white flowers on leafy side-branches. It is distinguished from the similar Kunzea ambigua by the flanges on the sides of its young branches.

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.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Toelken, Hellmut R. (1996). "A revision of the genus Kunzea (Myrtaceae) I. The western Australian section Zeanuk" (PDF). Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens. 17: 48–50. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 "Kunzea spathulata". FloraBase . Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
  3. "Kunzea spathulata". APNI. Retrieved 21 April 2019.