Rottnest tea-tree

Rottnest tea-tree (Melaleuca lanceolata)

A rugged tree found on the coast and offshore islands, growing as an individual or in dense stands. In either case it develops a very thick dome of foliage which protects it from salt and sand, and which provides shade and relative darkness. Flowers are produced in summer. The species name refers to the leaves, and is Latin for “shaped like a lance head”.

Ref: “Leaf and branch: trees and tall shrubs of Perth” by Robert Powell. Published by the Western Australian Department of Environment and Conservation, 2009.