About Melaleuca trichostachya Lindl.
Melaleuca trichostachya Lindl. is a small tree, usually growing less than 13 m (40 ft) tall, with white or brownish papery bark. Its leaves are most often arranged in alternating decussate pairs, forming four rows along the stem, but unlike the leaves of Melaleuca linariifolia, they are sometimes arranged alternately. Individual leaves are 9–45 mm (0.4–2 in) long and 0.7–2.8 mm (0.03–0.1 in) wide, flat, linear to lance-shaped, and taper to a point. The flowers are white or cream-coloured, arranged in spikes that usually grow at the ends of branches, which continue growing after flowering, and sometimes form in upper leaf axils. Each spike is up to 24 mm (0.9 in) in diameter and holds between 3 and 22 individual flowers. The petals are 2.5–4 mm (0.1–0.2 in) wide and drop off as the flower matures. Stamens are arranged in five bundles around each flower, with each bundle containing 34 to 105 stamens. Flowering can happen at any time of year, and is followed by woody capsule-shaped fruits 2–3 mm (0.08–0.1 in) long, that grow in loose clusters along the stems. Unlike the fruit of Melaleuca linariifolia, the valves of Melaleuca trichostachya fruit protrude beyond the rim of the fruiting capsule. Melaleuca trichostachya has a wide distribution across most of Queensland, with the exception of Cape York Peninsula. It also grows in the southern part of the Northern Territory, eastern South Australia, and in New South Wales, in areas north of Walgett.
