Kunzea capitata

Kunzea capitata
Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Australia
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Myrtales
Family:	Myrtaceae
Genus:	Kunzea
Species:	K. capitata
Binomial name
Kunzea capitata (Sm.) Heynh.[1]
Synonyms
Metrosideros capitata Sm.

Kunzea capitata is a shrub species in the family Myrtaceae. It is native to New South Wales in Australia.^[2]

Description

The species has a spreading or erect habit and may grow up to 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) in height, but is usually within the range of 0.5–1 metre (1 ft 8 in–3 ft 3 in).^[3] Flowers are pink to purple, or occasionally white. These are produced on the branch ends in "heads".^[2] Leaves are 3.5–9 millimetres (0.14–0.35 in) long and 1.5–4.5 millimetres (0.059–0.177 in) wide, with recurved tips and 1 millimetre (0.039 in) long petioles.^[2]

Taxonomy

The species was first formally described by English botanist James Smith in 1797 in Transactions of the Linnean Society of London, and given the name Metrosideos capitata.^[1] The species epithet capitata is derived from the Latin word caput (head), alluding to the arrangement of the flowers.^[3]

It was transferred to the genus Kunzea in 1846 by German botanist Gustav Heynhold.^[1]

Distribution and habitat

The species occurs in heathland and dry sclerophyll forest from the Ulladulla district northward to Richmond River.^[2]

Cultivation

The species prefers a moist soil in a lightly shaded to sunny position.^[3] It is readily propagated by either seed or cuttings.^[3]

References