Common Name: Drooping Sheoak
Botanical Name: Allocasuarina verticillata
Family: CASUARINACEAE
Description:
Small to medium-sized, rough-barked, grey-green tree, 5-10 m high, with distinctive slender, drooping branchlets. Seemingly absent, represented by 9-12 minute scales (leaf teeth) in whorls around the branchlets. Long, drooping, dark green, ribbed branchlets. Male and female flowers on separate trees. Male flowers are thin yellow-brown terminal spikes, 5-10 cm long. Female flowers in small, red, rounded heads. Autumn to winter. Female trees have large, cylindrical, woody cones, 2-5 cm long by 2-3 cm wide, pointed valves. Throughout the year.
Small to medium-sized, rough-barked, grey-green tree, 5-10 m high, with distinctive slender, drooping branchlets. Seemingly absent, represented by 9-12 minute scales (leaf teeth) in whorls around the branchlets. Long, drooping, dark green, ribbed branchlets. Male and female flowers on separate trees. Male flowers are thin yellow-brown terminal spikes, 5-10 cm long. Female flowers in small, red, rounded heads. Autumn to winter. Female trees have large, cylindrical, woody cones, 2-5 cm long by 2-3 cm wide, pointed valves. Throughout the year.
Natural Distribution:
Occurs in sub-coastal areas and rocky ranges in all agricultural districts of SA. Extends into NSW, Vic and Tas. Common to coastal and woodland areas.
Occurs in sub-coastal areas and rocky ranges in all agricultural districts of SA. Extends into NSW, Vic and Tas. Common to coastal and woodland areas.
Notes:
Previously named Casuarina stricta. Mature fruits are an important food source for cockatoos, parrots and galahs. Young trees are highly palatable and eaten by many animals.
Previously named Casuarina stricta. Mature fruits are an important food source for cockatoos, parrots and galahs. Young trees are highly palatable and eaten by many animals.
