Kunzea ericoides

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Kunzea ericoides
Kunzea ericoides in the Puhi Puhi Valley near Kaikoura

Kunzea ericoides in the Puhi Puhi Valley near Kaikoura

Systematics
Rosids
Eurosiden II
Order : Myrtle-like (Myrtales)
Family : Myrtle family (Myrtaceae)
Genre : Kunzea
Type : Kunzea ericoides
Scientific name
Kunzea ericoides
( A.Rich. ) Joy Thomps.

Kunzea ericoides is a species of the genus Kunzea within the myrtle family(Myrtaceae). Until 1983 this species was classified in the genus Leptospermum . "Kānuka" is one ofthe Māori common names for this plant species, other Māori -language names are Mānuka-Rauriki ("small-leaved Mānuka "), Māru, Mānuoea and Rāwiri, English white tea-tree.

description

Vegetative characteristics

Kunzea ericoides grows as a shrub or tree that is often branched at the base . Specimens in New Zealand reach heights of growth of up to 15 meters and trunk diameters of up to 40 centimeters. With its small but very numerous white flowers, the tree can turn an entire hill white so that it appears covered in snow.

The short-stalked, thick leaves are elongated, narrow-elliptical to obovate to -eilanceolate and up to 25 mm long and up to 3 mm wide, the tip is pointed to pointed and they are more or less finely haired.

Generative characteristics

Three or up to 15 stalked flowers are located on the sides in small groups in racemose inflorescences . The white flowers contain many stamens . The ovary is subordinate.

The capsule fruits, which are relatively small with a size of up to 4 mm, only stay there for a short time. They contain many seeds, up to 1 mm in size.

  • Branch with flowers

  • leaves

  • Capsule fruits

Leptospermum scoparium (Manuka) and Kunzea ericoides are often confused as externally similar species. However, the leaves of Kunzea ericoides are soft, those of Leptospermum scoparium are stinging. The flowers, capsule fruits and seeds of the smaller Leptospermum scoparium are larger and the capsule fruits stay there for a year. Kanuka is also very durable.

The number of chromosomes in Kunzea ericoides is 2n = 22.

Occurrence

Kunzea ericoides is common in Australia and New Zealand . In Australia, Kunzea ericoides occurs in the states of South Australia , Victoria , New South Wales and Queensland . It is particularly widespread in coastal bushland and populates land that has been left fallow after fires or abandonment of agriculture. There have been reports of occurrence at altitudes of up to 2000 meters.

use

Kanuka oil is obtained from the leaves and branches .

The wood of Kunzea ericoides is very hard and, although it is not durable in the ground, it is used for piles for quays and for tool handles. It is particularly popular as firewood because it burns at a high temperature.

Kakariki parrots use the bark and leaves of Kunzea ericoides and Leptospermum scoparium to fight their parasites. On the one hand they eat the plant parts, on the other hand they chew the material and apply it to their feathers , mixed with the secretion of the rump gland .

Honeybees like to visit the plant . The honey collected by the bees is regionally known as Kanuka honey, it is similar to Manuka honey .

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ^ John Dawson, Rob Lucas: Nature guide to the New Zealand forest. Godwit, 2000, ISBN 1-86962-055-0 .
  2. ↑ Kanuka and Manuka at Great Barrier Island Environmental News, accessed October 29, 2018.
  3. ↑ Kunzea ericoides at Tropicos.org. In: IPCN Chromosome Reports . Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis
  4. ↑ Terry Greene: Antiparasitic behavior in New Zealand parakeets (Cyanoramphus species). In: Notornis. Volume 36, Issue 4, 1989, pp. 322-323: PDF .
  5. ↑ KL Allen, PC Molan, GM Reid: A survey of the antibacterial activity of some New Zealand honeys. In: J. Pharm. Pharmacol. Volume 43, Issue 12, 1991, pp. 817-22, PMID 1687577 .

Web links

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