Kunzea ericifolia
Encyclopedia
Kunzea ericifolia, known as Spearwood or Pondil, is an erect woody evergreen
shrub that is endemic to Western Australia
.
are simple in structure with linear form growing to a length of about 10 millimetre (0.393700787401575 in) with a width of 1 millimetre (0.0393700787401575 in).
Flowering occurs in spring (July to December) and produces small round flower approximately 10 millimetre (0.393700787401575 in) in diameter. The globular blossom is perfumed and yellow, cream or white in color and occurs in clusters and the ends of branches. Flowers are followed by small single celled fruits that contain many small seed
that are dispersed once the fruit
is ripe
. Flowering fruiting occur annual.
The bark
is fibrous, rough and grey in colour, often peeling in layers from the stem
.
region. Populations of this species are found as far north as Gingin
and as far east as Bremer Bay
on the south coast. The largest populations occur around Albany
.
Many communities are found along the coast-line. A southeastern population is found in the Fitzgerald River National Park
. Stands are often found in transition areas between wetlands and drier regions.
and grey sand
. Grows well in moist conditions and along the margins of watercourse
s, lake
s and seasonally wet swamp
s. Can also be found growing amongst rocks in more open and elevated positions.
Requires good drainage
and a sunny or slightly shaded position. It is ideally suited to mediterranean conditions, can withstand a moderate frost
and will grow in more humid conditions.
K. ericifolia is susceptible to bushfire, which will destroy a thicket, however the seedlings can quickly repopulate an area after these events. The stands are often composed of plants of a similar age and size for this reason. The species can form dense thickets and produces large amounts of leaf litter, an environment occupied by a diverse range of orchid species that includes two rare hammer orchids.
The stands also provide shelter to fauna, the New Holland honeyeater
builds its nests amongst the branches.
, a genus of the Myrtaceae
family, which are found in southern regions of Australia. Kunzea ericifolia was collected by Archibald Menzies
during the Vancouver expedition's stop at King George Sound
in 1791. The species was first described by Gustav Heynhold
, the specific epithet referring to leaves, folium, that resemble the heath family
, erica in Latin. A noongar
name for the species is pondil and it is commonly described as Spearwood.
Evergreen
In botany, an evergreen plant is a plant that has leaves in all seasons. This contrasts with deciduous plants, which completely lose their foliage during the winter or dry season.There are many different kinds of evergreen plants, both trees and shrubs...
shrub that is endemic to Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
.
Description
K. ericifolia is a woody erect shrub, often multi-stemmed, that can grow to a height of 6 metres but is typically about 2 metres (7 ft) tall. The long and slender stems divide from the base, and continue to divide into finer, flexible and narrowly angled branches. The shrub has a crown of soft pale green foliage. The leafLeaves
-History:Vocalist Arnar Gudjonsson was formerly the guitarist with Mower, and he was joined by Hallur Hallsson , Arnar Ólafsson , Bjarni Grímsson , and Andri Ásgrímsson . Late in 2001 they played with Emiliana Torrini and drew early praise from the New York Times...
are simple in structure with linear form growing to a length of about 10 millimetre (0.393700787401575 in) with a width of 1 millimetre (0.0393700787401575 in).
Flowering occurs in spring (July to December) and produces small round flower approximately 10 millimetre (0.393700787401575 in) in diameter. The globular blossom is perfumed and yellow, cream or white in color and occurs in clusters and the ends of branches. Flowers are followed by small single celled fruits that contain many small seed
SEEDS
SEEDS is a voluntary organisation registered under the Societies Act of India....
that are dispersed once the fruit
Fruit
In broad terms, a fruit is a structure of a plant that contains its seeds.The term has different meanings dependent on context. In non-technical usage, such as food preparation, fruit normally means the fleshy seed-associated structures of certain plants that are sweet and edible in the raw state,...
is ripe
Ripe
Ripe may refer to:* Ripening, especially of fruit* Ripeness in viticulture, how the term "ripe" is used in viticulture and winemaking* RIPE, Réseaux IP Européens* RIPE NCC, the Regional Internet Registry for Europe* Ripeness, a term in law...
. Flowering fruiting occur annual.
The bark
Bark
Bark is the outermost layers of stems and roots of woody plants. Plants with bark include trees, woody vines and shrubs. Bark refers to all the tissues outside of the vascular cambium and is a nontechnical term. It overlays the wood and consists of the inner bark and the outer bark. The inner...
is fibrous, rough and grey in colour, often peeling in layers from the stem
Plant stem
A stem is one of two main structural axes of a vascular plant. The stem is normally divided into nodes and internodes, the nodes hold buds which grow into one or more leaves, inflorescence , conifer cones, roots, other stems etc. The internodes distance one node from another...
.
Distribution
Kunzea ericifolia is found in the Southwest AustraliaSouthwest Australia
Southwest Australia is a biodiversity hotspot that includes the Mediterranean forests, woodlands, and scrub ecoregions of Western Australia. The region has a wet-winter, dry-summer Mediterranean climate, one of five such regions in the world...
region. Populations of this species are found as far north as Gingin
Gingin, Western Australia
Gingin is an agricultural town in Western Australia. The town is located north of Perth along the Brand Highway.The town is well suited for agriculture with a mild climate and available water sources...
and as far east as Bremer Bay
Bremer Bay, Western Australia
Bremer Bay is a coastal town situated on the south coast of Western Australia in the Great Southern region between Albany and Esperance, at the mouth of the Bremer River. Bremer Bay is southeast of the state capital, Perth, and east of Albany. The town has a population of about 240...
on the south coast. The largest populations occur around Albany
Albany, Western Australia
Albany is a port city in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, some 418 km SE of Perth, the state capital. As of 2009, Albany's population was estimated at 33,600, making it the 6th-largest city in the state....
.
Many communities are found along the coast-line. A southeastern population is found in the Fitzgerald River National Park
Fitzgerald River National Park
Fitzgerald River National Park is a national park in Western Australia , southeast of Perth, in the Shire of Ravensthorpe and the Shire of Jerramungup....
. Stands are often found in transition areas between wetlands and drier regions.
Ecology
Kunzea ericifolia grows in sandy well drained soil. Found to grow in peaty soils, quartziteQuartzite
Quartzite is a hard metamorphic rock which was originally sandstone. Sandstone is converted into quartzite through heating and pressure usually related to tectonic compression within orogenic belts. Pure quartzite is usually white to gray, though quartzites often occur in various shades of pink...
and grey sand
Sand
Sand is a naturally occurring granular material composed of finely divided rock and mineral particles.The composition of sand is highly variable, depending on the local rock sources and conditions, but the most common constituent of sand in inland continental settings and non-tropical coastal...
. Grows well in moist conditions and along the margins of watercourse
Watercourse
A watercourse is any flowing body of water. These include rivers, streams, anabranches, and so forth.-See also:* physical geography* Environmental flow* Waterway* Hydrology* Wadi-External links:...
s, lake
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
s and seasonally wet swamp
Swamp
A swamp is a wetland with some flooding of large areas of land by shallow bodies of water. A swamp generally has a large number of hammocks, or dry-land protrusions, covered by aquatic vegetation, or vegetation that tolerates periodical inundation. The two main types of swamp are "true" or swamp...
s. Can also be found growing amongst rocks in more open and elevated positions.
Requires good drainage
Drainage
Drainage is the natural or artificial removal of surface and sub-surface water from an area. Many agricultural soils need drainage to improve production or to manage water supplies.-Early history:...
and a sunny or slightly shaded position. It is ideally suited to mediterranean conditions, can withstand a moderate frost
Frost
Frost is the solid deposition of water vapor from saturated air. It is formed when solid surfaces are cooled to below the dew point of the adjacent air as well as below the freezing point of water. Frost crystals' size differ depending on time and water vapour available. Frost is also usually...
and will grow in more humid conditions.
K. ericifolia is susceptible to bushfire, which will destroy a thicket, however the seedlings can quickly repopulate an area after these events. The stands are often composed of plants of a similar age and size for this reason. The species can form dense thickets and produces large amounts of leaf litter, an environment occupied by a diverse range of orchid species that includes two rare hammer orchids.
The stands also provide shelter to fauna, the New Holland honeyeater
New Holland Honeyeater
The New Holland Honeyeater is a honeyeater species found throughout southern Australia. It was among the first birds to be scientifically described in Australia, and was initially named Certhia novaehollandiae...
builds its nests amongst the branches.
Taxonomy
A species of KunzeaKunzea
Kunzea is a genus of 36-40 species of shrub in the myrtle family Myrtaceae. They are native to Australia, with one species extending to New Zealand. They are found throughout the Australian continent with most species occurring in southwestern Western Australia...
, a genus of the Myrtaceae
Myrtaceae
The Myrtaceae or Myrtle family are a family of dicotyledon plants, placed within the order Myrtales. Myrtle, clove, guava, feijoa, allspice, and eucalyptus belong here. All species are woody, with essential oils, and flower parts in multiples of four or five...
family, which are found in southern regions of Australia. Kunzea ericifolia was collected by Archibald Menzies
Archibald Menzies
Archibald Menzies was a Scottish surgeon, botanist and naturalist.- Life and career :Menzies was born at Easter Stix in the parish of Weem, in Perthshire. While working with his elder brother William at the Royal Botanic Gardens, he drew the attention of Dr John Hope, professor of botany at...
during the Vancouver expedition's stop at King George Sound
King George Sound
King George Sound is the name of a sound on the south coast of Western Australia. Located at , it is the site of the city of Albany.The sound covers an area of and varies in depth from to ....
in 1791. The species was first described by Gustav Heynhold
Gustav Heynhold
Gustav Heynhold was a German botanist.In 1841, he renamed Arabis thaliana as Arabidopsis thaliana Heynh. in honour of Johannes Thal.His author abbreviation is Heynh.-Works:...
, the specific epithet referring to leaves, folium, that resemble the heath family
Ericaceae
The Ericaceae, commonly known as the heath or heather family, is a group of mostly calcifuge flowering plants. The family is large, with roughly 4000 species spread across 126 genera, making it the 14th most speciose family of flowering plants...
, erica in Latin. A noongar
Noongar
The Noongar are an indigenous Australian people who live in the south-west corner of Western Australia from Geraldton on the west coast to Esperance on the south coast...
name for the species is pondil and it is commonly described as Spearwood.