weeping paperbark

Melaleuca irbyana is a large shrub or small tree with thick, spongy, papery bark, growing to a height of 10 m (30 ft). It has a dense, rounded canopy and fine, weeping foliage. The leaves are stalkless, 2–7 mm (0.08–0.3 in) but usually less than 4 mm (0.2 in) long and 1–2 mm (0.04–0.08 in) wide, oval or narrowly oval in shape tapering to a point and pressed against the branchlets. The flowers are white and scented and arranged in spikes at, or near the ends of branches which continue to grow after flowering. The spikes are up to 14 mm (0.6 in) in diameter and contain 3 to 12 individual flowers. The petals are 1.5–1.9 mm (0.06–0.07 in) long and fall off as the flower ages. The stamens are arranged in five bundles around the flower, each bundle containing between 6 and 11 stamens. Flowers appear between September and January. The fruit are woody capsules, 3.5–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) long, shaped like flattened spheres, arranged in loose clusters along the branches. Unlike many other melaleucas, the seeds are not retained in the capsules for more than a year.

Melaleuca irbyana is found in only a few places in New South Wales and Queensland. In New South Wales those places include Coraki, Casino and Coutts Crossing. Only two populations are recorded in conservation areas, in Warragai Creek Nature Reserve and Bungawalbin National Park. In Queensland there are populations near Ipswich, Jimboomba, Waterford West, and the Lockyer Valley It grows in pure stands and in open eucalypt forest in clay, sandstone or alluvial soils.

Melaleuca irbyana often occurs in association with eucalypt trees including E. crebra, E. melanophloia, E. moluccana or E. tereticornis. The understorey is sparse and comprises grasses, sedges and herbs with few shrubs and vines. Swamp paperbark forest provides habitat for a range of plants and animals including the nationally threatened slender milkvine plant (Marsdenia coronata). It provides shelter and nesting sites for a range of bird species and on the ground, fallen logs provide shelter for reptiles and temporary ponds provide breeding habitat for frogs and other pond life. Koalas, echidnas and wallabies also occur in this forest association.