Melaleuca incana subsp. incana

Dense spreading shrub 0.5–5 m high; bark fibrous or flaky; branchlets often weeping. Leaves subsessile or shortly petiolate, irregular, alternate or ternate, sometimes opposite, linear-elliptic to linear-ovate, 3.5–25 mm long, 0.5–3.5 mm wide, flat or concave above, greyish-hairy, acute or obtuse, faintly 3-veined, oil glands sometimes distinct. Inflorescence a short spike, 1–4 cm long, 1–2 cm wide; axis densely pubescent, growing on into a leafy shoot. Flowers 1 per bract; bracts ovate, sometimes acuminate; stamens 3–11 per bundle, white to yellow, claw 0.5–2.5 mm long, free part of filaments c. 3–5.5 mm long. Capsules 1.5–4 mm long, 3–6 mm wide, with persistent sepals. Flowers Aug.–Nov.