About Kunzea muelleri Benth.
Kunzea muelleri Benth. is a spreading shrub that grows between 0.3 and 0.8 meters (1 to 3 feet) in height, and its branches sometimes develop adventitious roots. Its leaves are arranged in roughly opposite pairs; they are linear, roughly cylindrical in shape, 2.5 to 4.5 millimeters (0.1 to 0.2 inches) long and less than 1 millimeter (0.04 inches) wide, with a petiole that is less than 0.5 millimeters (0.02 inches) long. The flowers form in groups that are mostly made up of two or three flowers near the ends of branches. There are egg-shaped bracts that measure 3 to 4 millimeters (0.1 to 0.2 inches) long and 1 to 1.5 millimeters (0.04 to 0.06 inches) wide, with similarly sized paired bracteoles at the base of each flower. The floral cup is hairy and 3 to 4 millimeters (0.1 to 0.2 inches) long. The sepal lobes are egg-shaped to triangular, 1 to 1.5 millimeters (0.04 to 0.06 inches) long, and hairy. The petals are pale yellow, roughly round in shape, and about 1.5 millimeters (0.06 inches) long. There are between 24 and 35 stamens, each 3.5 to 4.5 millimeters (0.1 to 0.2 inches) long. Flowering takes place from November to January, and is followed by drupe fruits that are about 4 millimeters (0.2 inches) long and 3 millimeters (0.1 inches) wide. This kunzea grows in alpine, subalpine, and montane heath, and is common in rocky areas. It sometimes forms large, continuous stands, and in Kosciuszko National Park, groups of plants that reach up to 20 centimeters (8 inches) in height cover large areas.
