Kunzea Explained

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.

Description

Plants in the genus Kunzea are shrubs or small trees, usually with their leaves arranged alternately along the branches. The flowers are arranged in clusters near the ends of the branches, which in some species, continue to grow after flowering. The flowers of most species lack a stalk but those that have one are usually solitary or in groups of two or three. In some species, the flowers are surrounded by enlarged bracts. There are five petals, five sepals and a large number of stamens which are always longer than the petals. The fruit is a usually a woody capsule.^[1] Kunzeas are similar to species in other genera of the Myrtaceae, especially Leptospermum but are distinguished from that genus by having stamens that are longer than the petals.

Taxonomy and naming

The first formal description of a kunzea was published in 1828 by Ludwig Reichenbach in his book Conspectus Regni Vegetabilis. Reichenbach referred to three species – K. capitata, K. ericifolia and K. corifolia (now K. ambigua) – but did not nominate a type species.^{[2] [3]} In 1981, Hellmut Toelken nominated K. capitata as the type species.^[4] Reichenbach named the genus after his "distinguished friend", the German naturalist Gustav Kunze, professor of botany in Leipzig.^[5] The taxonomy of the genus is not settled and hybrids often occur where two species occur in the same area.

Distribution

The majority of Kunzea species are endemic to the south-west of Western Australia but there are species in every Australian state and in New Zealand.^[6]

Use in horticulture

Some species of Kunzea are suitable for use in gardens. Kunzea ambigua is described as a "handsome shrub which attracts numerous birds and colourful soldier beetles when in flower". A form of this species from southern Victoria reputedly flowers profusely with sprays of scented flowers.^[7] Kunzea capitata and K. pulchella are red-flowering species from Western Australia and are described as "indeed outstanding" although they are sometimes difficult to establish in eastern states and need to be grafted onto hardier rootstock.^[8]

Species

Sourced from the authoritative Australian Plant Name Index and Australian Plant Census and the Kew Gardens World Checklist of Selected Plant Families.^{[2] [6]}

• Kunzea acicularis – WA
• Kunzea acuminata – WA
  • Kunzea affinis – WA Kunzea amathicola, rawiritoa – NZ
• Kunzea aristulata – NSW
  • Kunzea ambigua, tick bush – NSW, TAS, VIC Kunzea axillaris – NSW
• Kunzea badjaensis – NSW
• Kunzea baxteri, scarlet kunzea – WA
• Kunzea bracteolata – NSW, QLD
• Kunzea caduca – QLD
• Kunzea calida – QLD
• Kunzea cambagei – NSW
• Kunzea capitata, pink kunzea – NSW, QLD
• Kunzea ciliata – WA
• Kunzea cincinnata – WA
• Kunzea clavata – WA
• Kunzea dactylota – NSW
• Kunzea ericifolia, spearwood, pondil – WA
• Kunzea ericoides, manuoea, titira, atitira, kanuka - NZ
• Kunzea eriocalyx – WA
• Kunzea flavescens, – QLD
• Kunzea glabrescens, spearwood – WA
• Kunzea graniticola – QLD
• Kunzea jucunda – WA
• Kunzea juniperoides – NSW
• Kunzea leptospermoides, Yarra burgan - VIC
• Kunzea linearis, rawiri manuka – NZ
• Kunzea micrantha – WA
• Kunzea micromera – WA
• Kunzea montana, mountain kunzea – WA
• Kunzea muelleri, yellow kunzea – NSW
• Kunzea newbeyi – WA
• Kunzea obovata – NSW, QLD
• Kunzea occidentalis – NSW
• Kunzea opposita – NSW, QLD
• Kunzea parvifolia, violet kunzea – NSW, QLD, VIC
• Kunzea pauciflora – WA
• Kunzea peduncularis – VIC
• Kunzea petrophila – NT
• Kunzea phylicoides – NSW, VIC
• Kunzea pomifera, muntries – VIC, SA
• Kunzea praestans – WA
• Kunzea preissiana – WA
• Kunzea pulchella, granite kunzea – WA
• Kunzea recurva – WA
• Kunzea robusta, manuka, kanuka, kopuka, rawirinui, maru, rauriki – NZ
• Kunzea × rosea – WA
• Kunzea rostrata – WA
• Kunzea rupestris – NSW
• Kunzea salina – WA
• Kunzea salterae – NZ
• Kunzea sericothrix – QLD
• Kunzea serotina, makahikatoa – NZ
• Kunzea similis – WA
• Kunzea sinclairii, Great Barrier Island kanuka – NZ
• Kunzea spathulata – WA
• Kunzea × squarrosa – WA
• Kunzea strigosa – WA
• Kunzea sulphurea – WA
• Kunzea tenuicaulis, geothermal kanuka, geothermal kunzea, prostrate kanuka – NZ
• Kunzea toelkenii – NZ
• Kunzea triregenis, Three Kings kanuka – NZ
• Kunzea truncata – QLD

Notes and References

1. Web site: Wilson. Peter G.. Genus Kunzea. Royal Botanic Gardens Sydney: plantnet. 23 November 2016.
2. Web site: Kunzea Rchb.. APNI. 23 November 2016.
3. Book: Reichenbach. Ludwig. Conspectus Regni Vegetabilis. 1828. Leipzig. 175. 23 November 2016.
4. Toelken. Hellmu R.. A Revision of the Genus Kunzea (Myrtaceae) I. The Western Australian Section Zeanuk. Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Garden. 1996. 17. 28.
5. Book: Elliot . Rodger W. . Jones . David L. . Blake . Trevor . Encyclopaedia of Australian Plants Suitable for Cultivation: Volume 6 (K-M). 1993 . Lothian Press . Port Melbourne . 978-0-85091-589-1. 15.
6. Web site: Kunzea Rchb.. Royal Botanic Gardens kew. 23 November 2016.
7. Web site: Kunzea ambigua Tick Bush. Australian National Botanic Gardens. 23 November 2016.
8. Web site: McCarthy. Norm. The genus Kunzea. Australian Society for Growing Australian Plants. 23 November 2016.