Adventitious roots in Kunzea triregensis (Myrtaceae)

Adventitious roots are reported for Kunzea triregensis de Lange, an apparent first for this species and the Aotearoa / New Zealand indigenous representatives of Kunzea Rchb. It is noted that the roots were observed in a cultivated tree of this Manawatawhi / Three Kings Islands endemic that had been raised from a cutting. The role of adventitious roots in Myrtaceae is briefly summarised and it is concluded that their production in K. triregensis is potentially a response to enable the tree to obtain water collected in the branch axils. As adventitious roots are known to be produced more frequently by cutting grown Myrtaceae, it is possible that the roots reflect the cutting origin of the planted tree rather than the natural state for this species. Investigation of adventitious root production in natural populations of this species on Manawatāwhi / Three Kings Islands is advocated.