Melaleuca quinquenervia (Cav.) S.T.Blake

Tree 6–25 m tall, 1.3 m circumference, with buff-coloured or white thickly laminated corky bark splitting into light papery flakes; young shoots densely silky.. Leaves lanceolate to oblanceolate, 5–9 cm long, 0.6–2.4 cm wide, (3–)4–6(–7) times as long as wide, coriaceous, acute or narrowly obtuse, attenuate into the petiole, at length glabrous.. Spikes solitary or 2–3 together, terminal and sometimes in uppermost 1–3 axils, 4–8.5 cm long, 2.5–3.5 cm wide; rachis sparsely to densely hairy or almost glabrous; flowers white, cream or pale yellow.. Petals with linear and elliptic glands.. Fig. 1/5–7, p. 4.

Level to gently undulating topography along streams and estuaries and in marshes and seasonal swamps, sometimes forming pure stands.

The blossum and young leaves are used for tea. They young leaves are sour and eaten raw. The nectar from the flowers can be used to make a sweet drink. Caution: The aroma can cause allergies.

Can be grown by cuttings or seedlings.