Coastel She-oak / Horse-tail She-oak
Origin of name
Family: CASUARINACEAE
- Casuarina named for resemblance to the Cassowary
- equisetifolia meaning “horsetail-like leaves“
Occurrence
A tree of local beach forest and strand vegetation.
Grows well in sandy, well drained soils. Tolerates full sun, dry soils and salty wind. Good in containers & for bonsai.
Appearance
Tree to 5–10m. Drooping, segmented, grey-blue-green branchlets function as leaves – true leaves are the 6-8 tiny scales encircling each joint. Tiny flowers (males in spikes; females globular; both on same tree, Dec-Mar) are followed by woody cones that open when seeds ripen.
Indigenous uses include spear making, seeds roasted to supply salt, stems chewed to alleviate thirst, bark used to treat diarrhoea & dysentery. Wood used now for shingles, fencing and firewood. Used in erosion prevention and in wind breaks. Fruits attract cockatoos. Bees collect pollen. Food plant for at least 8 species of moths.
