''Kunzea pomifera'', commonly known as muntries, emu apples, native cranberries, munthari, muntaberry or monterry,Graham, C. and D. Hart (1997). ''Prospects for the Australian native bushfood industry''. RIRDC. is a low-growing or prostrate shrub with hairy stems, small, mostly egg-shaped leaves, groups of white flowers on the ends of the branches and fleshy, more or less spherical, edible fruit.

Description

''Kunzea pomifera'' is a low-growing or prostrate shrub with hairy young stems and that often develops roots along its main branches. Its leaves are arranged alternately and are egg-shaped to elliptic or almost round with a downturned point on the end. The leaves are long, wide on a petiole long. The flowers are white to cream-coloured, arranged in groups of mainly between three and eight near the ends of the main branches. There are oblong to more or less round bracts covered with silky hairs at the base of the flowers and almost reaching the top of the floral cup. The

sepal A sepal () is a part of the flower of angiosperms (flowering plants). Usually green, sepals typically function as protection for the flower in bud, and often as support for the petals when in bloom., p. 106 The term ''sepalum'' was coine ...

s are brown, triangular and long. The petals are egg-shaped to almost round, long. The stamens are white and long and the

style Style is a manner of doing or presenting things and may refer to: * Architectural style, the features that make a building or structure historically identifiable * Design, the process of creating something * Fashion, a prevailing mode of clothing ...

is long. The fruit is fleshy, more or less spherical, in diameter, deep red to purple or black when mature.

Taxonomy and naming

''Kunzea pomifera'' was first formally described in 1855 by Ferdinand von Mueller from specimens collected "on the sandy shores and on rocks at St. Vincent's Gulf and

Rivoli Bay Rivoli Bay, (french: Baie de Rivoli) is a bay located on the south-east coast of the Australian state of South Australia about south-southeast of the state capital of Adelaide and about northwest by west of the regional centre of Mount Gambie ...

. The description was published in Mueller's book, ''Definitions of rare or hitherto undescribed Australian plants''. The specific epithet (''pomifera'') is derived from the

Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...

words ''pomum'' meaning "fruit of any kind" or "apple" and ''fero'' meaning "to cover or bear".

Distribution and habitat

Muntries grows in

Victoria Victoria most commonly refers to: * Victoria (Australia), a state of the Commonwealth of Australia * Victoria, British Columbia, provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada * Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of Victory * Victoria, Seychelle ...

and

South Australia South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...

. In Victoria it grows mainly in sandy soil in the Little Desert and Big Desert and small populations between

Portland Portland most commonly refers to: * Portland, Oregon, the largest city in the state of Oregon, in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States * Portland, Maine, the largest city in the state of Maine, in the New England region of the northeas ...

and

Nelson Nelson may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Nelson'' (1918 film), a historical film directed by Maurice Elvey * ''Nelson'' (1926 film), a historical film directed by Walter Summers * ''Nelson'' (opera), an opera by Lennox Berkeley to a lib ...

. In South Australia it grows in sandy soil, often with limestone, between the

Yorke Peninsula The Yorke Peninsula is a peninsula located northwest and west of Adelaide in South Australia, between Spencer Gulf on the west and Gulf St Vincent on the east. The peninsula is separated from Kangaroo Island to the south by Investigator Str ...

and the Victorian border.

Uses

The berries produced by these plants are about in diameter, green with a tinge of red at maturity and have a flavour of a spicy apple. Crunchy in texture, muntries contain up to four times more antioxidants than blueberries and provide natural waxes that are good for skin nourishment.

Cultivation

''Kunzea pomifera'' was grown in England in 1889. It was one of the first species of Australian plant introduced into cultivation in England.

Trellising

While muntries are a groundcover in the wild, commercial growers have successfully managed to trellis the plants. Trellised muntries allow easier access for harvesting and management. It also allows a more efficient use of orchard space. Muntrie plants can be trained quite easily through weaving the growing plant through and along trellis wires, using plant ties to secure them.

Soil requirements

Muntries seem to prefer well drained soil of a moderately acid to strongly alkaline pH (6.0 - 8.0).Hele, A. (2001). ''Muntries production''. Australian Native Produce Industries Pty Ltd, Primary Industries and Resources SA.

Water requirements

Natural rainfall levels of wild populations range from . For cultivation it is suggested that waterlogging and extremely dry soils should both be avoided. Moderate restriction of water in the early spring may be beneficial in stimulating flowering and reducing competitive vegetative growth. Anecdotal evidence suggests that overwatering muntries may result in a dilution of flavour in the muntrie berries.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q3061705 pomifera Flora of Victoria (Australia) Flora of South Australia Bushfood Crops originating from Australia Myrtales of Australia Plants described in 1855 Taxa named by Ferdinand von Mueller