Melaleuca ctenoides
Melaleuca ctenoides is a shrub in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It was first described in 1990 in a review of the genus "Melaleuca" when the species "M. laxiflora" at that time was found to comprise ten species. Two of those species were new - "M. camptoclada" and "M. ctenoides". It similar to "Melaleuca laxiflora" but distinguished from it by its comb-like leaves and attractive mauve or violet flowers in spring. Description. "Melaleuca ctenoides" is a spreading shrub growing to a height of about . Its leaves and branches are  glabrous or almost so. The leaves are long and , wide linear in shape and almost circular in cross-section. Mauve flowers occur in spikes on side branches which continue to grow after flowering. Each spike has up to 20 individual flowers and is about long and in diameter. The petals are pale pink, long but fall off soon after the flower opens. The stamens are arranged in five bundles around the flower with 14 to 18 stamens in each bundle. Flowering occurs mainly from October to November and the fruit that follow are woody capsules, long. Taxonomy and naming. "Melaleuca  ctenoides" was first formally described in 1990 by F.C.Quinn from a specimen found by road north of Wongan Hills. The specific epithet ("ctenoides") is from the Greek "ctenos" meaning "comb" and "-oides", "resembling", referring to the appearance of new growth with young leaves projecting like the teeth of a comb. Distribution and habitat. This melaleuca occurs between the Maya, Narembeen and Hyden districts in the Avon Wheatbelt, Coolgardie and Mallee biogeographic regions. It grows in sandy or clay soils on hillsides and granite outcrops. Conservation status. "Melaleuca ctenoides" is listed as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department  of Parks and Wildlife.