scented paperbark

Melaleuca squarrosa is a shrub, sometimes a small tree growing to 0.5–10 m (2–30 ft) high, with white or grey papery bark. Its leaves are arranged in alternating pairs (decussate) so that its leaves are in four rows along the stems. They are 5–16.2 mm (0.2–0.6 in) long, 2.5–8.2 mm (0.1–0.3 in) wide, flat and linear to narrow egg-shaped tapering to a point. They have between 5 and 7 distinct veins.

The cream-coloured flowers are arranged in spikes at the ends of branches which continue to grow after flowering. Each spike contains 4 to 20 individual flowers and is up to 22 mm (0.9 in) in diameter and 40 mm (2 in) long. The petals are 2–2.7 mm (0.08–0.1 in) long and fall off as the flower matures. There are five bundles of stamens around the flower, each with 6 to 12 stamens. Flowering mostly occurs in spring or early summer and is followed by fruit which are woody, cup-shaped to spherical capsules, 2.7–3.5 mm (0.11–0.14 in) long.

Melaleuca squarrosa scrub is widespread throughout the west, north-east and far north-west of Tasmania especially in swampy areas. On the mainland it occurs between areas near Sydney, south through Victoria to the far south-east of South Australia, growing in heath and dry sclerophyll forest in damp places in coastal districtsand the adjacent ranges.

This melaleuca is a useful plant as a screen plant because of its neat, dense foliage and attractive, sweetly scented flowers.

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