Melaleuca brachyandra

Melaleuca brachyandra is a shrub growing to tall with hard bark and a rigid habit. Its leaves are arranged alternately and are long, wide, linear in shape, kidney-shaped in cross section and with the end tapering to a sharp point. The flowers are arranged in spikes on the ends of branches that continue to grow after flowering. The spikes are up to in diameter with 7 to 36 individual flowers. The petals are long and fall off as the flower ages. There are 50 to 84 stamens in each flower, with their "stalks" (the filaments) rich crimson and "tips" (the anthers) green. Flowering occurs from September to January and is followed by fruits that are woody capsules, long. ==Taxonomy and naming==

Melaleuca brachyandra was first formally described in 2006 by Lyndley Craven in Novon. It had previously been known as Callistemon brachyandrus since John Lindley described it in 1849 in Journal of the Horticultural Society of London. The specific epithet (brachyandra) is derived from the ancient Greek words brachys (βραχύς), meaning "short" and anēr, genitive andros (ἀνήρ, genitive ἀνδρός), meaning "male", referring to the length of the stamens being shorter than the styles. Callistemon brachyandrus is regarded as a synonym of Melaleuca brachyandra by Plants of the World Online. ==Distribution and habitat==

Melaleuca brachyandra occurs in scattered inland areas of New South Wales, mostly commonly in the Cobar district. It also occurs in the lower Murray River districts of north-western Victoria and south-eastern South Australia. ==Use in horticulture==

Although it has prickly leaves, the attractive flower spikes of M. brachyandra make it a suitable ornamental for temperate gardens. It prefers well-drained soil in a sunny situation. ==References==