Tick bush
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Kunzea
Species:
K. ambigua
Binomial name
Kunzea ambigua

Kunzea ambigua, commonly known as white kunzea, poverty bush or tick bush, is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is 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.

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.[1][2]

Taxonomy and naming

Kunzea ambigua was first formally described in 1797 by James Edward Smith who gave it the name Leptospermum ambiguum.[3] English botanist George Claridge Druce gave it its current binomial name in 1917.[4] The generic name honours German naturalist Gustav Kunze,[5] while the specific epithet is derived from the Latin adjective ambiguus meaning "doubtful" or "uncertain".[6] 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.[7]

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,[2] through Victoria and into Tasmania. It grows on sandy soils in coastal or near-coastal regions.[1] It is a very common dry forest shrub of the Sydney region, and regenerates in disturbed or cleared areas.[8] 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.[9]

In recent times, it has been discovered that the Kunzea ambigua plant grows abundantly in Flinders Island and North East Tasmania. Tasmania regularly experiences strong westerly winds and a high annual rainfall of over 700mm. This harsh, windy and brisk climate is the ideal environment for the Kunzea ambigua plant to thrive.[10]

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)[11] as well as butterflies, flies, bees and wasps.[12] The tick bush is killed by fire and regenerates from seed. Plants can also colonise unburnt sites with ample sunlight.[12]

Use in horticulture

It was one of the first species of Australian plant introduced into cultivation in England.[5] It is a hardy and adaptable plant that is used in windbreaks and sand dune stabilization plantings,[1] as well as gardens, particularly in Australian gardens using native plants according to principles of natural landscaping. The species attracts Australian native insects,[13] and can provide shelter for small birds and the long-nosed bandicoot (Perameles nasuta).[14]

It can regenerate quickly after disturbance, suggesting it may have weedy potential if planted outside its natural range.[1]

Therapeutic benefits

Kunzea ambigua is registered with the Therapeutic Goods Administration for use in "Kunzea Pain Relief Cream"[15] and "Vita Future Nasal Congestion Relief".[16]

References

  1. ^ a b c d Elliot et al., p. 16-17
  2. ^ a b Martin, Rhonda (September 1980). "The Warrumbungle National Park: The flora as you will see it". Australian Plants. 10 (84): 376–80.
  3. ^ "Leptospermum ambiguum". APNI. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
  4. ^ "Kunzea ambigua". APNI. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
  5. ^ a b 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.((cite book)): CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. ^ Simpson DP (1979). Cassell's Latin Dictionary (5 ed.). London: Cassell Ltd. p. 883. ISBN 0-304-52257-0.
  7. ^ Blombery, Alec (June 1973). "Kunzea ambigua". Australian Plants. 7 (55): 133.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ "The History and Science of Kunzea Oil". Zea Relief. Retrieved 2017-08-08.
  11. ^ Webb, G.A. (1986) Some insect pollinators of Kunzea ambigua (Sm.) Druce (Myrtaceae) near Sydney, New South Wales. Victorian Naturalist 103: 12–15.
  12. ^ a b Benson, Doug; McDougall, Lyn (1998). "Ecology of Sydney plant species:Part 6 Dicotyledon family Myrtaceae" (PDF). Cunninghamia. 5 (4): 809–987.
  13. ^ Elliot, Rodger (1994). Attracting Wildlife to Your Garden. Melbourne: Lothian Books. p. 51. ISBN 0-85091-628-3.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ "Kunzea Pain Relief Cream". Australian Government Department of Health - Therapeutic Goods Administration. Retrieved 20 July 2021.
  16. ^ "Vita Future Nasal Congestion Relief". Australian Government Department of Health - Therapeutic Goods Administration. Retrieved 20 July 2021.

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