The volatile leaf oil of Callistemon linearis (Schrader et Wendl.) Sweet (Myrtaceae) is predominantly monoterpenoid in character with 1,8-cineole accounting for 64% of the oil. Sesquiterpenoids make up less than 3% of the oil, spathulenol being the only significant one at 1.5% of the oil. A comparison of the chemistry of the volatile oils of Callistemon and of the closely related genus Melaleuca shows that the latter is the more varied one of the two, although Callistemon oils in general resemble 1,8-cineole-rich Melaleuca oils.