Prostrate Kanuka - Kunzea ericoides var. microflora
The prostrate kānuka
is one of the few plants that can survive hot grounds in the immediate surroundings of geothermal features like fumaroles and craters, for instance at "Craters of the Moon" (Karapiti), a geothermal area close to Taupo in New Zealand.
This particular tree in the Otari-Wilton's Bush plant sanctuary is very old and has been pruned above the ground to allow other plants space beneath. The effect is to show off the rather flattened structure of the trunk and branches as compared with standard kanuka. The flowers on the prostrate form are also noticeably smaller than kanuka but have the same smothering pattern to make the tree appear almost white with snow.
Family:Myrtaceae
Genus:Kunzea
Species:K. ericoides var microflora
Kanuka is a tree or shrub which is restricted to Australia and New Zealand. Until 1983, Kānuka was classified as being in the genus Leptospermum.
It is widespread particularly in coastal scrub and colonising land recovering after a fire or reverting to a natural state after being used for agriculture. However it has been recorded growing to altitudes of 2000 metres above sea level. With its small but abundant flowers it can colour a whole hillside white, almost giving the appearance of snow cover. The wood is very hard and although not durable in the ground it is used for wharf piles and tool handles. It is particularly popular as firewood, burning with a great heat. In New Zealand, Kānuka can grow up to 30 metres high with a trunk up to one metre across.
Kākāriki parakeets (Cyanoramphus) use leaves and bark of Kānuka and the related Mānuka tea trees to rid themselves of parasites. Apart from ingesting the material, they also chew it, mix it with preen gland oil and apply it to their feathers. Mānuka and Kānuka are superficially similar species and they are often confused with one another - the easiest way to tell the difference between them is to feel the foliage, Kānuka leaves being soft, while Mānuka leaves are prickly.
Prostrate Kanuka - Kunzea ericoides var. microflora
The prostrate kānuka
is one of the few plants that can survive hot grounds in the immediate surroundings of geothermal features like fumaroles and craters, for instance at "Craters of the Moon" (Karapiti), a geothermal area close to Taupo in New Zealand.
This particular tree in the Otari-Wilton's Bush plant sanctuary is very old and has been pruned above the ground to allow other plants space beneath. The effect is to show off the rather flattened structure of the trunk and branches as compared with standard kanuka. The flowers on the prostrate form are also noticeably smaller than kanuka but have the same smothering pattern to make the tree appear almost white with snow.
Family:Myrtaceae
Genus:Kunzea
Species:K. ericoides var microflora
Kanuka is a tree or shrub which is restricted to Australia and New Zealand. Until 1983, Kānuka was classified as being in the genus Leptospermum.
It is widespread particularly in coastal scrub and colonising land recovering after a fire or reverting to a natural state after being used for agriculture. However it has been recorded growing to altitudes of 2000 metres above sea level. With its small but abundant flowers it can colour a whole hillside white, almost giving the appearance of snow cover. The wood is very hard and although not durable in the ground it is used for wharf piles and tool handles. It is particularly popular as firewood, burning with a great heat. In New Zealand, Kānuka can grow up to 30 metres high with a trunk up to one metre across.
Kākāriki parakeets (Cyanoramphus) use leaves and bark of Kānuka and the related Mānuka tea trees to rid themselves of parasites. Apart from ingesting the material, they also chew it, mix it with preen gland oil and apply it to their feathers. Mānuka and Kānuka are superficially similar species and they are often confused with one another - the easiest way to tell the difference between them is to feel the foliage, Kānuka leaves being soft, while Mānuka leaves are prickly.