Paperbark teatree

Melaleuca quinquenervia

Tree usually 10–15 m high with papery bark.

Leaves alternate, lanceolate to elliptic, 30–70 mm long, 8–24 mm wide, apex obtuse, mostly with 5 prominent longitudinal veins, often hairy with appressed hairs; petiole 4–10 mm long.

Inflorescences many-flowered spikes, mostly 2–5 cm long; rachis densely hairy to almost glabrous. Flowers in threes within each bract, white or cream or sometimes greenish. Petals obovate, 2–4 mm long. Stamens 8–12 mm long, 6–10 per bundle; claw 1.5–2 mm long.

Fruit broad-cylindrical, 4–5 mm diam., orifice 3–4 mm diam.; sepals not persistent.