Common name: Broombush
Melaleuca uncinata R.Br. APNI* 
Description: Erect, multi-stemmed shrub 1–4 m high with papery bark on older stems.
Leaves alternate, terete or compressed-terete, mostly 15–40(-55) mm long, to c. 1 mm wide, apex acute with a fine recurved tip, glabrescent; subsessile.
Inflorescences dense, pseudo- pedunculate heads; rachis pubescent. Flowers usually in 3s within each bract, white to yellowish. Petals ± circular, c. 1 mm long. Stamens 4–7 per bundle; claw to 2.3 mm long.
Fruits densely packed in an elliptical mass 7–13 mm wide. Individual capsules c. 3 mm diam., orifice c. 1 mm diam.; sepals not persistent.
Flowering: chiefly spring.
Distribution and occurrence: Predominantly occurs on the slopes and plains. Grows in mallee, woodland and dry sclerophyll forest, usually on sandy soils; widespread, often forming dense stands.
NSW subdivisions: NC, *CC, *CT, NWS, CWS, NWP, SWP
Other Australian states: Qld Vic. S.A. N.T. W.A.
Often cut and used in the construction of brush fencing.
Text by Peter. G. Wilson
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 2 (1991). Updated January 2019.
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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