Melaleuca squarrosa

Melaleuca squarrosa, common name scented paperbark, is a shrub, sometimes a small tree growing up to 10 m high, with white or grey papery bark. Its leaves are arranged in alternating pairs, so that its leaves are in four rows along the stems. They are up to 15 mm long, 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 in diameter and 40 mm long. Flowering mostly occurs in spring or early summer and is followed by fruit which are woody, cup-shaped to spherical capsules.

91.00 Location Many specimens form part of the Tarwin River bank restoration plantings by the West Gippsland CMA in 2009/11

Significance to the Ganai community. Nectar from the flower and crushed leaves were made into drinks.