Kunzea capitata | |
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Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Australia | |
Scientific classification
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Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Myrtales |
Family: | Myrtaceae |
Genus: | Kunzea |
Species: | K. capitata
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Binomial name | |
Kunzea capitata | |
Synonyms | |
Metrosideros capitata Sm. |
Kunzea capitata is a shrub species in the family Myrtaceae. It is native to New South Wales in Australia. [2]
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]
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]
The species occurs in heathland and dry sclerophyll forest from the Ulladulla district northward to Richmond River. [2]
The species prefers a moist soil in a lightly shaded to sunny position. [3] It is readily propagated by either seed or cuttings. [3]