Kunzea linearis

Kunzea linearis is a densely-branched shrub or tree which usually grows to a height of up to 12 m (40 ft). It is densely branched, usually forming a rounded canopy up to 2 m (7 ft) in diameter. The leaves are densely crowded along the branches, especially near the ends and are hairy, about 9–20 mm (0.4–0.8 in) long, 0.5–1 mm (0.02–0.04 in) wide and lack a petiole. The flowers are arranged in more or less cylindrical groups of between three and forty, and the individual flowers are 2–6 mm (0.08–0.2 in) in diameter. The floral cup is 2–4 mm (0.08–0.2 in) long, 2.5–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) in diameter, cup-shaped or barrel-shaped and usually has a covering of silvery white hairs. There are five sepal lobes 1–2 mm (0.04–0.08 in) long on the rim of the floral cup. The five or six petals are white, cream-coloured or pale pink, egg-shaped to almost round, about 2–4 mm (0.08–0.2 in) long and wide and there are between 40 and 50 cream coloured stamens which are longer than the petals. Flowering occurs between October and February and is followed by fruit which are woody, barrel-shaped capsules 1.5–3 mm (0.06–0.1 in) long, 2.5–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide with persistent sepal tips.

Kunzea linearis mostly grows in coastal to lowland shrubland in impoverished soils and peat bogs. It mostly occurs in the northern part of the North Island from North Cape south to Ahipara and the Karikari Peninsula and sporadically south of there. It is the most distinctive of the New Zealand kunzeas.