Kunzea ericoides
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- For the Patlabor character, see Kanuka Clancy.
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| Kunzea ericoides (A.Rich.) Joy Thomps. |
Kunzea ericoides (Kanuka, Burgan, or Tea tree) is a tree or shrub which is native to New Zealand and Australia Until the 1980s, Kanuka was classified as being in the genus Leptospermum.
[edit] Occurrence in New Zealand
Kanuka is common throughout New Zealand, particularly in coastal scrub and colonizing land recovering after a fire or reverting to a natural state after being used for agriculture. With its small but abundant flowers it can colour a whole hill side 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, Kanuka can grow up to 20 metres high with a trunk 60 cm across.
Just like New Zealand's other tea tree Manuka Kanuka leaves and bark are employed by kakariki parakeets (Cyanoramphus) to rid themselves of parasites by either eating the material or chewing it and applying it mixed with preen gland oil to their feathers[1]. Manuka and Kanuka are very similar species and are often confused with one another -the easiest way to tell the difference between them is to feel the foliage- Kanuka leaves are soft while Manuka leaves are prickly.[2]
[edit] Occurrence in Australia
In Australia Burgan, as it is commonly known there, is native to the states of South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland where it grows as a shrub or small tree to 5 metres tall.
[edit] References
- ^ Greene, Terry (1989): Antiparasitic behaviour in New Zealand parakeets (Cyanoramphus species). Notornis 36(4): 322–323. PDF fulltext
- ^ "Nature guide to the New Zealand forest"- John Dawson, Rob Lucas, Godwit, 2000
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