Melaleuca viridiflora Sol. ex Gaertn.

Gaertner, J. (1788) De Fructibus et Seminibus Plantarum 1: 173. Type: Ex herbario Banksiano. [given by S.T.Blake, Contr. Queensland Herb. 1 (1968) 36 as [Queensland, Endeavour River, July-August 1770.

Broad-leaved Tea Tree; Paperbark Tea Tree; Broad Leaved Paperbark; Greenflowered Paperbark; Paperbark; Broad-leafed Teatree; Paperbark Tree; Swamp Tea Tree; White Tea Tree

Dead bark layered and very papery.

Freshly crushed leaves have an aromatic odour perhaps resembling mango (Mangifera indica). Leaf blades about 4-5 times as long as wide, about 8-16 x 1.5-4 cm, with 5-7 longitudinal veins more prominent than the rest. Young shoots and twigs clothed in white or silver, prostrate hairs.

Inflorescences about 35-40 mm wide. Flowers usually in threes. Stamens about 14-20 mm long, +/- fused in five bundles opposite the petals.

Capsules sessile, glabrous, about 4-5 x 4-5 mm. Seeds oblong, brown, about 1 x 0.25 mm, wingless.

Cotyledons obovate, about 2 mm long. At the tenth leaf stage: leaves narrowly elliptic, glabrous; oil dots small, visible with a lens. Seed germination time 12 to 57 days.

Occurs in WA, NT, CYP, NEQ, CEQ and southwards to south-eastern Queensland. Altitudinal range from sea level to 450 m. This species exists in a number of forms, and the form or forms which grow in association with rain forest are the taller ones often associated with swampy conditions. Also occurs in New Guinea.

A beautiful small tree which is beginning to be noticed in horticulture. Prefers soils that are seasonally wet. Flowers cream to pink or red.