Kunzea capitata facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kunzea capitata |
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| Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, Australia | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Kunzea
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| Species: |
capitata
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| Synonyms | |
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Metrosideros capitata Sm. |
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Kunzea capitata is a type of shrub, a bushy plant, that belongs to the Myrtaceae family. You can find it growing naturally in New South Wales, Australia.
What it Looks Like
This plant can grow either spread out or stand straight up. It usually reaches about 0.5 to 1 meter (about 1.5 to 3 feet) tall. Sometimes, it can grow up to 2 meters (about 6.5 feet).
Its pretty flowers are often pink or purple. Occasionally, you might see white ones. These flowers grow in groups, like little "heads," at the end of the branches. The leaves are small, about 3.5 to 9 millimeters long. They are also about 1.5 to 4.5 millimeters wide. Their tips curve backward, and they have tiny stems about 1 millimeter long.
How it Got its Name
The Kunzea capitata was first officially described in 1797. An English botanist named James Smith gave it the name Metrosideos capitata. He wrote about it in a scientific paper.
The second part of its name, capitata, comes from a Latin word. Caput means "head." This name was chosen because the flowers grow in groups that look like little heads.
Later, in 1846, a German botanist named Gustav Heynhold moved the plant to the genus Kunzea. This is why its full scientific name is Kunzea capitata today.
Where it Grows
You can find Kunzea capitata in certain parts of Australia. It grows in areas called heathland. It also lives in dry sclerophyll forests. These are forests with tough, hard-leaved plants.
The plant is found from the Ulladulla area northwards. It grows all the way up to the Richmond River region in New South Wales.
Growing Your Own
If you want to grow Kunzea capitata, it likes soil that is a bit damp. It also prefers a spot that gets some sunlight or light shade.
It's quite easy to grow new plants from seeds. You can also grow new plants from cuttings. Cuttings are small pieces of the plant that can grow roots.
