Kanuka
Botanical name: Kunzea ericoides
Common name: Tea Tree (white)
Maori name: Kanuka
Kanuka is common throughout lowland and mountain scrub and along forest margins in the North and South Islands, from sea level to 900 metres. Kanuka can grow up to 15 metres tall with long strips of loose, papery bark and small leaves that feel silky when young. Flowers are small, to 5 mm, have a musty, heady scent, white with purple centre, long stamens and are formed in clusters, they quite often smoother the tree like a white blanket throughout summer.
Kanuka oil was used by Maori and is now sold in New Zealand and other countries as Teatree oil for its anti-worm, antibacterial and insecticidal properties. Maori also used pounded kanuka seed capsules to make a poultice for running sores.
Kanuka
Botanical name: Kunzea ericoides
Common name: Tea Tree (white)
Maori name: Kanuka
Kanuka is common throughout lowland and mountain scrub and along forest margins in the North and South Islands, from sea level to 900 metres. Kanuka can grow up to 15 metres tall with long strips of loose, papery bark and small leaves that feel silky when young. Flowers are small, to 5 mm, have a musty, heady scent, white with purple centre, long stamens and are formed in clusters, they quite often smoother the tree like a white blanket throughout summer.
Kanuka oil was used by Maori and is now sold in New Zealand and other countries as Teatree oil for its anti-worm, antibacterial and insecticidal properties. Maori also used pounded kanuka seed capsules to make a poultice for running sores.