Kunzea ambigua

Kunzea ambigua, commonly known as white kunzea, poverty bush or tick bush, is a plant in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is found mainly on sandstone soils in eastern Australia. Growing up to 5 m (16 ft) high and wide, it bears small white flowers in spring. Used in native gardening, it attracts native insects. It is also used in amenities planting and sand dune stabilization.

Tick bush
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Myrtales
Family: Myrtaceae
Genus: Kunzea
Species:
K. ambigua
Binomial name
Kunzea ambigua

Description

Kunzea ambigua is a small- to medium-sized spreading shrub that may reach 5 m (16 ft) both in height and width, though is usually much smaller (from 1 m (3 ft)). Its bark is fibrous and furrowed, while the narrow lanceolate green leaves are 0.5–1.3 cm in length and 0.2 cm wide, with hairy new growth. Occurring from September to December or January, the white flowers are 1.2 cm in diameter and sweetly fragrant. The stamens are longer than the petals. The flowers are followed by small woody capsules 0.4 cm in diameter.[1][2]

Taxonomy and naming

Kunzea ambigua was first formally described in 1797 by James Edward Smith who gave it the name Leptospermum ambiguum.[3] English botanist George Claridge Druce gave it its current binomial name in 1917.[4] The generic name honours German naturalist Gustav Kunze,[5] while the specific epithet is derived from the Latin adjective ambiguus meaning "doubtful" or "uncertain".[6] Its common names are white kunzea and tick bush.

A pale pink-flowered hybrid with Kunzea capitata has been recorded from Stony Range Flora reserve in Dee Why in Sydney's northern beaches region.[7]

Distribution and habitat

Kunzea ambigua is found from northeastern New South Wales, having been recorded in the Grand High Tops of the Warrumbungle National Park,[2] through Victoria and into Tasmania. It grows on sandy soils in coastal or near-coastal regions.[1] It is a very common dry forest shrub of the Sydney region, and regenerates in disturbed or cleared areas.[8] It is associated with scrub she-oak (Allocasuarina distyla), Melaleuca nodosa, cheese tree (Glochidion ferdinandi) in heath or scrub, and with red bloodwood (Corymbia gummifera), peppermint gum (Eucalyptus piperita), forest red gum (Eucalyptus tereticornis), woolybutt (E. longifolia), thin-leaved stringybark (E. eugenioides), and white feather honeymyrtle (Melaleuca decora) in forested areas. In Wilsons Promontory in Victoria, Kunzea ambigua is the dominant species within scattered areas of treeless heath that occur on granite hills and mountains.[9]

In recent times, it has been discovered that the Kunzea ambigua plant grows abundantly in Flinders Island and North East Tasmania. Tasmania regularly experiences strong westerly winds and a high annual rainfall of over 700mm. This harsh, windy and brisk climate is the ideal environment for the Kunzea ambigua plant to thrive.[10] In particular, this wind has played a key role in blanketing Flinders Island and many parts of Tasmania with Kunzea seed and thus it grows profusely throughout the island.

Ecology

Insects are the main pollinators of Kunzea ambigua; these include various types of beetles including jewel beetles (Buprestidae), scarab beetles (Scarabaeidae), flower beetles (Mordellidae), and checkered beetles (Cleridae)[11] as well as butterflies, flies, bees and wasps.[12] The tick bush is killed by fire and regenerates from seed. Plants can also colonise unburnt sites with ample sunlight.[12]

Use in horticulture

It was one of the first species of Australian plant introduced into cultivation in England.[5] It is a hardy and adaptable plant that is used in windbreaks and sand dune stabilization plantings,[1] as well as gardens, particularly in Australian gardens using native plants according to principles of natural landscaping. The species attracts Australian native insects,[13] and can provide shelter for small birds and the long-nosed bandicoot (Perameles nasuta).[14]

It can regenerate quickly after disturbance, suggesting it may have weedy potential if planted outside its natural range.[1]

Therapeutic benefits

Kunzea ambigua was traditionally used by Australian Aboriginal communities to relieve irritated skin, muscle tightness and pain.[15] Kunzea essential oil is now registered with the Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) as providing temporary relief of the pain of arthritis.[16]

Kunzea ambigua has since been used as the active ingredient in topical products for relieving muscles, joints and inflammation.[17] The first known product to use Kunzea essential oil Zea Relief Kunzea Balm was listed with the TGA on the 13 Jul 2017 for the following approved therapeutic claims:[18]

  • May help enhance/improve/promote/increase joint mobility in mild arthritis
  • Relief of muscular aches and pains
  • May assist in the management of eczema
  • May temporarily relieve joint pain/aches associated with mild arthritis
  • May temporarily relieve joint inflammation/ swelling associated with mild arthritis
  • May assist in the management of dry skin

References
  1. Elliot et al., p. 16-17
  2. Martin, Rhonda (September 1980). "The Warrumbungle National Park: The flora as you will see it". Australian Plants. 10 (84): 376–80.
  3. "Leptospermum ambiguum". APNI. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
  4. "Kunzea ambigua". APNI. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
  5. Elliot, Rodger W, Jones, David L, Blake, Trevor (1993). Encyclopaedia of Australian Plants Suitable for Cultivation: Volume 6 (K-M). Port Melbourne: Lothian Press. p. 15. ISBN 0-85091-589-9.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  6. Simpson DP (1979). Cassell's Latin Dictionary (5 ed.). London: Cassell Ltd. p. 883. ISBN 0-304-52257-0.
  7. Blombery, Alec (June 1973). "Kunzea ambigua". Australian Plants. 7 (55): 133.
  8. Fairley A, Moore P (2000). Native Plants of the Sydney District:An Identification Guide (2nd ed.). Kenthurst, NSW: Kangaroo Press. p. 188. ISBN 0-7318-1031-7.
  9. Sibley, G.T.; Rees, D.B. (July 1999). A classification of the lands at Wilson’s Promontory - Second Edition (PDF) (Report). Centre for Land Protection Research (Vic));. ISBN 0-7306-6778-2. Retrieved 11 January 2012.CS1 maint: extra punctuation (link)
  10. "The History and Science of Kunzea Oil". Zea Relief. Retrieved 2017-08-08.
  11. Webb, G.A. (1986) Some insect pollinators of Kunzea ambigua (Sm.) Druce (Myrtaceae) near Sydney, New South Wales. Victorian Naturalist 103: 12–15.
  12. Benson, Doug; McDougall, Lyn (1998). "Ecology of Sydney plant species:Part 6 Dicotyledon family Myrtaceae" (PDF). Cunninghamia. 5 (4): 809–987.
  13. Elliot, Rodger (1994). Attracting Wildlife to Your Garden. Melbourne: Lothian Books. p. 51. ISBN 0-85091-628-3.
  14. Benson, D; Ondinea D; Bear V (1999). Missing Jigsaw Pieces: The Bushplants of the Cooks River Valley. Sydney: Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney. p. 57. ISBN 0-7313-9128-4.
  15. Therapeutic Goods Administration. "TGA eBS". Boundless Plains to Share. One Mandate Group. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  16. Therapeutic Goods Administration. "TGA eBS". TGA. Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Retrieved 25 July 2016.
  17. Therapeutic Goods Administration. "TGA eBS". TGA. Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  18. Therapeutic Goods Administration. "TGA eBS". TGA. Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA). Retrieved 22 November 2017.
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