Shrub or small tree 2–10 m high; bark papery; branchlets initially pubescent, soon glabrescent. Leaves decussate, linear or narrowly elliptic, 1–3 cm long, 1–3 mm wide, flat or concave above, acute, soon glabrescent, 1- or faintly 3-veined, oil glands sometimes distinct; petiole c. 1 mm long. Inflorescence a many-flowered spike, 1.5–4 cm long, mostly 2–3 cm wide; axis pubescent or glabrous, usually growing on into a leafy shoot. Flowers often opposite, 1 per bract; bracts variable, short and ovate to leaf-like; stamens 30–60 per bundle, white to cream, claw 8–16 mm long, filaments attached along margin and at apex of claw, free portion to c. 3 mm long. Capsules 2.5–4 mm long and wide, sepals somewhat persistent. Flowers Oct.–Feb.
VVP, GipP, OtP, Gold, CVU, HSF. Also naturalised in WA. Native to coastal areas of Queensland and New South Wales, known in Victoria from a population at Puckapunyal, where sparingly established.
One of the most commonly used species in street plantings in the suburbs of Melbourne.
