Melaleuca 
of globular or ovoid many flowered axillary, sessile 
heads on current and older shoots. Hypanthium 1.2- 
1.5 mm long, pilose. Sepals triangular, 0.5-0.7 mm 
long, pilose with narrow .scarious margins. 
Petals orbicular, membranous, 1-2 mm long. Stamens 
5-9 per bundle, 3-8 mm long. Ovary hairy at apex. 
Flowering: May - Sept; fruiting: Aug - Nov. Fig. 54 
Distributed from the Kimberley to the Gulf of 
Carpentaria; in the DR, recorded from the Pt. Stuart 
area. The species is usually associated with maritime 
habitats such as salt flats and the landward edge of 
mangroves where it forms pure stands. In flower it 
has a distinctive odour which has been likened to the 
smell of a flying fox camp. 
M. argentea W.Fitzg. 
Broadly spreading tree to 20 m, sometimes taller; 
bark papery, becoming shaggy. Branchlets pendulous. 
Petioles c. 5 mm long. Leaf blades narrowly elliptic, 
tapering equally to each end from the middle, silvery 
sericeous, becoming glabrous, 60-130 mm long, 
6-22 mm wide. Inflorescence of interrupted spikes to 
160 mm long. Hypanthium c. 2.5 mm long, pubes- 
cent. Sepals broadly obtuse, pubescent, without a 
hyaline margin, c. 1.8 mm long. Petals orbicular, 
concave, membranous, often pubescent in the centre 
of the back, 3-4 mm long. Stamen bundles fused at 
base, falling together, 6-8 per bundle, 10-15 mm long. 
Ovary pubescent at apex. Fruit 2.5-4 mm long, 3-4 
mm wide. Flowering: July - Oct; fruiting: all year. 
Fig. 54 
Widely distributed throughout tropical Australia. 
A riverine species, often with M. leucadendra 
from which it is distinguished by its silvery foliage. 
Cultivated in Darwin where it has proved to be a 
decorative and hardy street tree. 
M. cajuputi Powell 
Tree to 20 m, rarely to 35 m; bark white, 
papery. Branchlets and young leaves softly pilose, 
with spreading hairs, leaves soon glabrous but hairs 
persistent on petioles and branchlets. Petioles c. 5 
mm long. Leaf blades narrowly elliptic, tapering 
equally to each end from the middle, often slightly 
falcate, 24-80(110) mm long, 7-18(28) mm wide, 
L/B 3-7. Inflorescence a spike, 40-140 mm long. 
Hypanthium c. 2 mm long, pubescent. Sepals trian- 
gular, c. 1 mm long, pubescent, without membranous 
margin. Petals broadly elliptic, concave, membra- 
nous, ciliate, c. 2 mm long. Stamen bundles separate, 
7-11 per bundle, 7-12 mm long. Ovary pubescent at 
apex. Fruit 2-3 mm long, 3-5 mm wide. Flowering: 
Mar - Oct; fruiting: Sept - Dec. Fig. 54 
MYRTACEAE ; 173 
India to northern Australia. Common across the NT 
and the DR, forming pure stands on the heavy clay 
soils of the coastal plains. Habitat preference is for 
sites which remain moist, at least at depth, through- 
out the year. 
M. dealbata S.T.Blake 
Tree to 12 m, rarely taller; bark white, papery, 
becoming shaggy. New foliage greyish, densely 
pubescent with crisped and simple patent hairs; older 
leaves glabrous. Petioles 4-9 mm long. Leaf blades 
elliptic or narrowly elliptic, 42-125 mm long, 12-28 
mm wide, L/B 3-7. Inflorescence of interrupted spikes 
60-110 mm long, densely grey pubescent in all parts 
except the petals and stamens. Hypanthium c. 2 mm 
long. Sepals obtuse, 1-1.2 mm long. Petals orbicular, 
1.5-2.5 mm long. Stamens white, 4-6 per bundle, 
bundles 6.5-10 mm long, bundles falling separately. 
Fruit 3.5-4 mm long, 3.5-4 mm wide. Flowering: Aug 
- Oct; fruiting: July. Fig. 54 
Australian endemic; in the Top End and Qld. 
Frequently on heavy clay soils which are-waterlogged 
during the Wet; also on sandy soils overlying 
clay and sometimes in swales of coastal dunes. 
Distinguished in the field by its blue grey foliage on 
growing tips. Used in Darwin in street plantings. 
M. leucadendra (L.) L. 
Tree to 30 m; bark white, papery; branchlets 
pendulous. Young leaves silky hairy, glabrous when 
fully expanded. Petioles 5-15 mm long. Leaf blades 
often falcate, narrowly lanceolate or lanceolate, 
55-190 mm long, 7-37 mm wide, L/B 5-15, acute 
to acuminate. Inflorescence of interrupted 
spikes, 70-130 mm long, glabrous throughout. 
Hypanthium 2-3 mm long. Sepals semicircular, 
overlapping, 1-1.5 mm long. Petals orbicular, 
concave, 2-4 mm long. Stamens 5-9 per bundle, 
bundles 7-14 mm long, falling separately. Fruit 
2.5- 5 mm long, 3-6 mm wide. Flowering: Aug - May; 
fruiting: all year. Fig. 54 
Moluccas, New Guinea and northern Australia. In 
the NT widely distributed over the Top End. In a 
variety of habitats including freshwater seepages on 
the landward fringe of mangroves, the margins of 
freshwater streams and the coastal floodplains in 
permanent and semipermanent swamps. Cultivated 
as an amenity tree in Darwin, especially fine leaved 
forms. 
M. nervosa (Lindl.) Cheel 
Tree to 10 m; rhizomatous, forming patches of 
