Kunzea calida facts for kids

Kunzea calida is a special plant that belongs to the Myrtaceae family, also known as the myrtle family. This family includes plants like eucalyptus and tea trees. Kunzea calida is found only in Queensland, Australia, which means it is "endemic" there. It grows as a spreading bush. Its leaves are long and thin, often rolled up so they look like tiny cylinders. In September, this plant blooms with pretty pinkish-purple flowers. These flowers grow in clusters near the tips of its branches. You can only find Kunzea calida in wild, hard-to-reach parts of the Mount Stewart Ranges, close to a place called Homestead.

What Kunzea calida Looks Like

Kunzea calida is a spreading bush that can grow up to about 3 m (10 ft) tall. It has bark that peels off in flakes.

Leaves and Stems

Most of its leaves grow in pairs directly opposite each other on the branches. The leaves are long and narrow, like a line or a small spear. They are often rolled up, making them look like tiny tubes. Each leaf is about 3–8 mm (0.1–0.3 in) long and less than 1 mm (0.04 in) wide. They grow on a very short stem called a petiole. The leaves are covered with short, soft, silky hairs.

Flowers and Fruit

The flowers of Kunzea calida are a lovely pinkish-purple color. They grow in round groups of three to twelve flowers at the ends of the branches. Each flower has special leaf-like parts called bracts. These bracts are long and narrow, about 4–7 mm (0.2–0.3 in) long and 1–2 mm (0.04–0.08 in) wide. There are also smaller paired bracteoles at the bottom of each flower.

The base of the flower, called the floral cup, is about 3–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long and has hairs on it. The sepals, which are like small leaves protecting the bud, are shaped like triangles and are about 1.5 mm (0.06 in) long and hairy. The petals are oblong or egg-shaped, about 1 mm (0.04 in) long. Each flower has many stamens (the parts that make pollen), usually between 50 and 64, arranged in several rows.

This plant flowers in September. After the flowers, it produces a fruit that is almost round. This fruit is a type of dry seed pod called a capsule.

Naming and Discovery

How Kunzea calida Got its Name

The plant Kunzea calida was first officially described in 1867. A famous botanist named Ferdinand von Mueller gave it its scientific name. He published his description in a book called Fragmenta phytographiae Australiae.

The second part of its name, calida, comes from a Latin word. It means "warm" or "hot."

Where Kunzea calida Lives

Habitat and Location

Scientists don't know everything about where this kunzea plant grows. However, it is found in open areas within the Mount Stewart Ranges. These ranges are located in Queensland, Australia.

Protecting Kunzea calida

Conservation Status

Kunzea calida is a very rare plant. It is listed as "Endangered" under Queensland's Nature Conservation Act 1992. This means it is at high risk of disappearing forever if we don't protect it.