Kunzea ambigua

Kunzea ambigua, commonly known as the White Kunzea, Poverty Bush or Tick Bush, is a common shrub of the myrtaceae family found 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.

It 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,while the specific epithet is derived from the Latin adjective ambiguus 'doubtful' or 'uncertain'. 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.

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.

nsects 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) as well as butterflies, flies, bees and wasps.

The tick bush is killed by fire and regenerates from seed. Plants can also colonise unburnt sites with ample sunlight.



Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kunzea_ambigua


See Also: flowers brisbane, flower sydney, flowers philippines, flowers jamaica