Kunzea ambigua

Tick bush
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Kunzea
Species: K. ambigua
Binomial name
Kunzea ambigua
(Sm.) Druce

Kunzea ambigua, commonly known as the white kunzea, poverty bush or tick bush, is a common shrub of the myrtaceae family found mainly on sandstone soils in eastern Australia. Growing up to 5 m (16 ft) high and wide, it bears small white flowers in spring. Used in native gardening, it attracts native insects. It is also used in amenities planting and sand dune stabilization.

Taxonomy and naming

Kunzea ambigua was initially described as Leptospermum ambiguum by James Edward Smith, before English botanist George Claridge Druce gave it its current binomial name in 1917. The generic name honours German naturalist Gustav Kunze,[1] while the specific epithet is derived from the Latin adjective ambiguus 'doubtful' or 'uncertain'.[2] Its common names are white kunzea and tick bush.

A pale pink-flowered hybrid with Kunzea capitata has been recorded from Stony Range Flora reserve in Dee Why in Sydney's northern beaches region.[3]

Description

Kunzea ambigua is a small- to medium-sized spreading shrub that may reach 5 m (16 ft) both in height and width, though is usually much smaller (from 1 m (3 ft)). Its bark is fibrous and furrowed, while the narrow lanceolate green leaves are 0.5–1.3 cm in length and 0.2 cm wide, with hairy new growth. Occurring from September to December or January, the white flowers are 1.2 cm in diameter and sweetly fragrant. The stamens are longer than the petals. The flowers are followed by small woody capsules 0.4 cm in diameter.[4][5]

Distribution and habitat

Kunzea ambigua is found from northeastern New South Wales, having been recorded in the Grand High Tops of the Warrumbungle National Park,[5] through Victoria and into Tasmania. It grows on sandy soils in coastal or near-coastal regions.[4] It is a very common dry forest shrub of the Sydney region, and regenerates in disturbed or cleared areas.[6] It is associated with scrub she-oak (Allocasuarina distyla), Melaleuca nodosa, cheese tree (Glochidion ferdinandi) in heath or scrub, and with red bloodwood (Corymbia gummifera), peppermint gum (Eucalyptus piperita), forest red gum (Eucalyptus tereticornis), woolybutt (E. longifolia), thin-leaved stringybark (E. eugenioides), and white feather honeymyrtle (Melaleuca decora) in forested areas. In Wilsons Promontory in Victoria, Kunzea ambigua is the dominant species within scattered areas of treeless heath that occur on granite hills and mountains.[7]

In recent times, it has been discovered that the Kunzea ambigua plant grows abundantly in Flinders Island. Located 54km off the Tasmanian point of Cape Portland, situated in a zone commonly known as the 'Roaring Forties' and regularly experiences strong westerly winds and an average annual rainfall of 735mm. This harsh, windy and brisk climate is the ideal environment for the Kunzea ambigua plant to thrive.[8] The wind has played a key role in blanketing the island with Kunzea seed and thus it grows profusely throughout the island.

Ecology

Insects are the main pollinators of Kunzea ambigua; these include various types of beetles including jewel beetles (Buprestidae), scarab beetles (Scarabaeidae), flower beetles (Mordellidae), and checkered beetles (Cleridae)[9] as well as butterflies, flies, bees and wasps.[10] The tick bush is killed by fire and regenerates from seed. Plants can also colonise unburnt sites with ample sunlight.[10]

Cultivation

It was one of the first species of Australian plant introduced into cultivation in England.[1] It is a hardy and adaptable plant that is used in windbreaks and sand dune stabilization plantings,[4] as well as gardens, particularly in Australian gardens using native plants according to principles of natural landscaping. The species attracts Australian native insects,[11] and can provide shelter for small birds and the long-nosed bandicoot (Perameles nasuta).[12]

It can regenerate quickly after disturbance, suggesting it may have weedy potential if planted outside its natural range.[4]

Therapeutic benefits

Kunzea ambigua was traditionally used by Aboriginal communities to relieve irritated skin, muscle tightness and pain. The pure essential oil has been registered with the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) as providing temporary relief of the pain of arthritis.[13]

References

  1. 1 2 Elliot, Rodger W, Jones, David L, Blake, Trevor (1993). Encyclopaedia of Australian Plants Suitable for Cultivation: Volume 6 (K-M). Port Melbourne: Lothian Press. p. 15. ISBN 0-85091-589-9.
  2. ↑ Simpson DP (1979). Cassell's Latin Dictionary (5 ed.). London: Cassell Ltd. p. 883. ISBN 0-304-52257-0.
  3. ↑ Blombery, Alec (June 1973). "Kunzea ambigua". Australian Plants. 7 (55): 133.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Elliot et al., p. 16-17
  5. 1 2 Martin, Rhonda (September 1980). "The Warrumbungle National Park: The flora as you will see it". Australian Plants. 10 (84): 376–80.
  6. ↑ Fairley A, Moore P (2000). Native Plants of the Sydney District:An Identification Guide (2nd ed.). Kenthurst, NSW: Kangaroo Press. p. 188. ISBN 0-7318-1031-7.
  7. ↑ Sibley, G.T.; Rees, D.B. (July 1999). A classification of the lands at Wilson’s Promontory - Second Edition (PDF) (Report). Centre for Land Protection Research (Vic));. ISBN 0-7306-6778-2. Retrieved 11 January 2012.
  8. ↑ "The History and Science of Kunzea Oil". Zea Relief. Retrieved 2017-08-08.
  9. ↑ Webb, G.A. (1986) Some insect pollinators of Kunzea ambigua (Sm.) Druce (Myrtaceae) near Sydney, New South Wales. Victorian Naturalist 103: 12–15.
  10. 1 2 Benson, Doug; McDougall, Lyn (1998). "Ecology of Sydney plant species:Part 6 Dicotyledon family Myrtaceae" (PDF). Cunninghamia. 5 (4): 809–987.
  11. ↑ Elliot, Rodger (1994). Attracting Wildlife to Your Garden. Melbourne: Lothian Books. p. 51. ISBN 0-85091-628-3.
  12. ↑ Benson, D; Ondinea D; Bear V (1999). Missing Jigsaw Pieces: The Bushplants of the Cooks River Valley. Sydney: Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney. p. 57. ISBN 0-7313-9128-4.
  13. ↑ Therapeutic Goods Administration. "TGA eBS". TGA. Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Retrieved 25 July 2016.
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