River She-oak
Origin of name
Family: CASUARINACEAE
- Casuarina named for resemblance to the Cassowary
- cunninghamiana in honour of Allan Cunningham
Occurrence
A local plant, fringing fresh water rivers and streams.
Grows well in any soil but waterlogged clay. Fixes nitrogen in a symbiotic relationship with Frankia bacteria. Tolerates full sun, drought, seasonal waterlogging and some salinity.
Appearance
Sparse, spreading tree (10-30m). Drooping, segmented, grey-green branchlets function as leaves – true leaves are 8-10 tiny scales around each joint. Tiny flowers (males in spikes, females globular, on separate trees; Dec-Mar) lead to woody cones that open when seeds ripen. The tallest of the she-oaks.
Useful in multipurpose farm forests for timber. Good tree for windbreaks, erosion control and firewood. Bees collect pollen. Birds use trees for food (seeds) and shelter. Has many indigenous uses (weapons, medicinal, firewood).
