Melaleuca viridiflora, commonly known as broad-leaved paperbark is a plant in the myrtle family and is native to woodlands, swamps and streams of monsoonal areas of northern Australia and New Guinea. It is usually a small tree, 3-7 m tall with papery bark and spikes of cream, yellow, green or red flowers. The bark is grey to cream, fibrous and in papery layers. Leaves are broad thick lanceolate dull dark green with 5-7 longitudinal veins. They are about 7-19 cm long x 2.5-5.5 cm wide. Flowers in dense creamy-green spikes with staminal filaments 18-23 mm long. Fruit is a capsule 4-6 x 4-6 mm. Red flowering forms occasionally found.

Melaleuca viridiflora is used by Aboriginal Australians for multiple uses. The bark is peeled off in layers and is used for shelter, bedding, containers, storing and cooking food, fire tinder, water craft, fish traps and wrapping corpses. In traditional medicine, an infusion from leaves was drunk, inhaled or used for bathing to treat coughs, colds, congestion, headache, fever and influenza. An essential oil is obtained from the leaves. Known as ‘Niaouli oil’, it has antiseptic properties. It is used in the treatment of coughs, neuralgia and rheumatism.