Punktree

Melaleuca quinquenervia, commonly known as niaouli or broad-leaved paperbark, is an evergreen tree of the family Myrtaceae, native to coastal and near-coastal areas of eastern Australia (Queensland and New South Wales), New Guinea and New Caledonia, and widely planted and naturalized in tropical regions including Florida, where it is an aggressive invader of wetlands. The tree commonly reaches 8–25 m in height, with a thick trunk clothed in characteristic spongy, papery, whitish bark that peels in numerous fine, longitudinal layers. The leaves are alternate, leathery, lanceolate to elliptical, 5–10 cm long and 1–2.5 cm wide, with five conspicuous parallel longitudinal veins (giving the specific epithet) and a strong camphor-like fragrance when crushed. Numerous small, cream-white flowers are densely arranged in cylindrical, bottlebrush-like spikes 4–8 cm long at the branch tips, the long white stamens producing the showy effect. The fruit is a small, woody capsule 3–4 mm across, persistent on the branches for many years.