Kanuka
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- This article is about the Kanuka tree. For the Patlabor character, see Kanuka Clancy.
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| Kunzea ericoides |
Kunzea ericoides (Kanuka or Tea tree) is a New Zealand native tree or shrub. Until the 1980s, Kanuka was classified as being in the genus Leptospermum along with New Zealand's other tea tree Manuka.
Though similar in appearance to manuka, kanuka can grow much larger - a mature tree can be up to 20 m high with a trunk 60 cm across.
It is common throughout New Zealand particularly in coastal scrub and colonizing land recovering after a fire or reverting to a natural state after being used for agriculture. With its small but abundant flowers it can colour a whole hill side white almost giving the appearance of a snow cover. The wood is very hard and although not durable in the ground it is used for wharf piles and tool handles. It is particularly popular as firewood, burning with a great heat.
Just like manuka, kanuka leaves and bark are employed by kakariki parakeets (Cyanoramphus) to rid themselves of parasites by either eating the material or chewing it and applying it mixed with preen gland oil to their feathers (Greene, 1989).
[edit] References
- Greene, Terry (1989): Antiparasitic behaviour in New Zealand parakeets (Cyanoramphus species). Notornis 36(4): 322–323. PDF fulltext
