Common name: Broombush
Melaleuca uncinata R.Br. APNI* Description: Erect, multi-stemmed shrub 1–3 m high with papery bark on older stems.
Leaves alternate, terete or compressed-terete, mostly 15–40 mm long, c. 1 mm wide, apex acute with a fine recurved tip, glabrescent; subsessile.
Inflorescences dense, pseudo- pedunculate heads; rachis pubescent. Flowers usually solitary within each bract, white to yellow. Petals ± circular, c. 1 mm long. Stamens 4–8 per bundle; claw c. 2 mm long.
Fruit subglobose, c. 3 mm diam., orifice c. 1 mm diam.; sepals not persistent in fruit; fruit persisting in globose clusters 6–12 mm diam.
Flowering: chiefly spring.
Distribution and occurrence: Grows in mallee, woodland and dry sclerophyll forest, usually on sandy soils; widespread, often forming dense stands. Often cut and used in the construction of brush fences.
NSW subdivisions: CC, NWS, CWS, NWP, SWP, NFWP
Other Australian states: Qld Vic. S.A. N.T. W.A.
Text by Peter. G. Wilson
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 2 (1991)
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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