About Melaleuca linearifolia Sm.
Melaleuca linearifolia Sm. is a shrub or small tree that grows up to 4 meters (10 feet) tall. It has grey, hard, flaking bark. Its leaves are arranged alternately along stems, are 29 to 152 millimeters (1 to 6 inches) long and 4 to 13 millimeters (0.2 to 0.5 inches) wide. The leaves are flat with thickened edges, linear to lance-shaped, pointed at the tip, and have a single mid-vein plus 17 to 35 branching veins. The flowers of this species range from red to dark crimson, and are arranged in spikes at the ends of branches (which continue growing after flowering) and also on the sides of branches. The flower spikes are 35 to 55 millimeters (1 to 2 inches) in diameter and 9 to 10 centimeters (3.5 to 3.9 inches) long, holding 30 to 90 individual flowers. The petals are 3.2 to 6.6 millimeters (0.1 to 0.3 inches) long and fall off as the flower ages. Each flower contains 21 to 23 stamens. Flowering takes place from spring through summer. After flowering, the plant produces woody capsule fruits that are 4.8 to 6 millimeters (0.19 to 0.24 inches) long. This species is distributed on the coast of New South Wales, Australia, from Nelson Bay to the Georges River. It grows in dry sclerophyll forest near sandstone.
