Casuarina equisetifolia | |
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Subspecies equisetifolia near Darwin | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Fagales |
Family: | Casuarinaceae |
Genus: | Casuarina |
Species: | C. equisetifolia |
Binomial name | |
Casuarina equisetifolia | |
Subspecies | |
| |
Synonyms [2] | |
Casuarina equisetifolia var. typica Domin |
Casuarina equisetifolia, commonly known as coastal she-oak, horsetail she-oak, [3] ironwood, [4] beach sheoak, beach casuarina or whistling tree [5] is a species of flowering plant in the family Casuarinaceae and is native to Australia, New Guinea, Southeast Asia and India. It is a small to medium-sized, monoecious tree with scaly or furrowed bark on older specimens, drooping branchlets, the leaves reduced to scales in whorls of 7 or 8, the fruit 10–24 mm (0.39–0.94 in) long containing winged seeds (samaras) 6–8 mm (0.24–0.31 in) long.
Casuarina equisetifolia is a monoecious tree that typically grows to a height of 6–12 m (20–39 ft), sometimes to 35 m (115 ft), and has bark that is smooth and greyish on young specimens, scaly or furrowed on older trees. The branchlets are drooping, up to 300 mm (12 in) long, the leaves reduced to scale-like teeth about 0.7 mm (0.028 in) long, arranged in whorls of 7 or 8 around the branchlets. The sections of branchlet between the leaf whorls (the "articles") are 5–13 mm (0.20–0.51 in) long and 0.5–1.0 mm (0.020–0.039 in) wide. Male flowers are arranged in spikes 7–40 mm (0.28–1.57 in) long in whorls of 7 to 11.5 per centimetre (per 0.39 in.) the anthers 0.6–0.8 mm (0.024–0.031 in) long. The female cones are on a peduncle 3–13 mm (0.12–0.51 in) long and sparsely covered with soft or woolly hairs. Mature cones are 10–24 mm (0.39–0.94 in) long and 9–13 mm (0.35–0.51 in) in diameter, the samaras 6–8 mm (0.24–0.31 in) long. [3] [5] [6]
Common names for the tree include Australian pine, horsetair tree, ironwood, beach sheoak; although it has features that seem superficially like a conifer, it is not a pine. [7]
The genus Casuarina was first formally described in 1759 by Carl Linnaeus in Amoenitates Academicae and the first species he described was Casuarina equisetifolia. [8] [9] The specific epithet (equisetifolia) means "horsehair-leaved". [5]
In 1873, George Bentham described Casuarina equisetifolia var. incana and C. equisetifolia var. equisetifolia in Flora Australiensis . [10] and in 1982, Lawrie Johnson changed the names to subspecies equisetifolia and incana respectively, in the Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens : [11]
There is some doubt as to whether Linnaeus' publication of C. equisetifolia is valid, since he based his description solely on Rumphius's description of Casuarina litorea in Herbarium Amboinense [17] and there are no type specimens. [18]
Casuarina equisetifolia subsp. equisetifolia grows near the sea, behind beaches and near estuaries, sometimes on rocky headlands in Australia, New Guinea, Southeast Asia and India. [2] [5] The species is native to India and Bangladesh in South Asia, Myanmar, the Andaman Islands, Nicobar Islands, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Peninsular Malaysia, the Philippines, Borneo, Java and the Lesser Sunda Islands, islands in the South China Sea, Sulawesi and Sumatra in Southeast Asia, the Carolines, Fiji, the Marianas, the Marshall Islands, New Caledonia, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu in the Pacific Ocean, New Guinea, and New South Wales, the Northern Territory, and Queensland in Australia. [2] [5] [13]
Subspecies incana grows on rocky headlands near the coasts of eastern Queensland and New South Wales as far south as Laurieton. [3] [5] [15] [19]
Casuarina equisetifolia has been introduced to many other continents and islands. [2] It is an invasive species in the United States, but biological control by insects, including by a Selitrichodes wasp and Carposinidae and Gelechiidae moths has been effective. [20] [21] [22] It is also regarded as being invasive in South Africa. [23]
Other than ornamental purposes, Casuarina was also explored in for its potential in remediation of textile dye wastewater. Casuarina leaves were found to be useful as absorbent material for the removal of textile dyes such as reactive orange 16 [24] Rhodamine B, [25] methylene blue, malachite green [26] and methyl violet 2b. [27] Similarly the Casuarina dried cone was also reported to be able to remove Rhodamine B, [28] and methyl violet 2b. [29] The Casuarina bark was reported to able to remove methylene blue. [30] Even the Casuarina seed was also found to be useful in dye removal of neutral red and malachite green. [31] The carbon derived from the cones of Casuarina was found to be good absorbent for the landfill leachate, [32] while another laboratory also reported good absorbent for copper ions from aqueous solution. [33]
In Singapore, there is a road named Tanjong Rhu Road because it once had many of these trees growing along the coast from Kallang to Rochor. [34] In the island of Langkawi, Kedah, Malaysia, there is a sand spit in the mouth of the Ayer Hangat river in the Kilim Karst Geoforest Park about 20 km from the town of Kuah also named Tanjung Rhu where these trees line here. [35] The town of Tanjung Aru in Sabah is also named because a lot of this tree (aru) is found in its beach. [36]
In the Philippines, the town of Agoo is named after the tree (known as agoho or aroo in the Ilocano language). [37]
Casuarina equisetifolia exhibits a high degree of adaptability to different environmental conditions, including coastal habitats, sandy soils, and disturbed areas. This versatility allows it to thrive in a wide range of ecosystems, increasing its potential for invasiveness. [38]
The species produces large quantities of winged seeds contained within cone-like structures. These seeds are easily dispersed by wind and water, facilitating the rapid spread of Casuarina equisetifolia over long distances. This dispersal mechanism enables it to colonize new areas and outcompete native species. [39]
Casuarina equisetifolia's lack of natural predators or pests contributes to its unchecked growth in many regions. While specific scientific references directly addressing this aspect might be limited, the absence of significant herbivory or predation on Casuarina equisetifolia in non-native environments has been observed in ecological studies documenting its invasive behavior [40] [41]
Human activities such as urbanization, agriculture, and landscaping often contribute to the spread of Casuarina equisetifolia. The species is frequently planted for erosion control, windbreaks, and ornamental purposes, inadvertently introducing it to new areas where it can become invasive. [42]
Casuarina, also known as she-oak, Australian pine and native pine, is a genus of flowering plants in the family Casuarinaceae, and is native to Australia, the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, islands of the western Pacific Ocean, and eastern Africa.
Allocasuarina fraseriana, commonly known as western sheoak, or Fraser's sheoak is a species of flowering plant in the family Casuarinaceae, and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. The Noongar peoples know the tree as kondil,condil, kulli or gulli. It is a monoecious tree that has branchlets up to 300 mm (12 in) long, the leaves reduced to scales in whorls of six to eight, and the mature fruiting cones 15–40 mm (0.59–1.57 in) long, containing winged seeds (samaras) 9–10 mm (0.35–0.39 in) long.
Allocasuarina huegeliana, commonly known as rock sheoak is a species of flowering plant in the family Casuarinaceae and is endemic to Western Australia. It is a dioecious tree that has its leaves reduced to scales in whorls of eight to ten, the mature fruiting cones 14–35 mm (0.55–1.38 in) long containing winged seeds (samaras) 5–7 mm (0.20–0.28 in) long.
Allocasuarina lehmanniana, commonly known as dune sheoak, is a species of flowering plant in the family Casuarinaceae and is endemic to near-coastal areas of the south-west of Western Australia. It is dioecious or less commonly a monoecious shrub that has its leaves reduced to scales in whorls of six to eight, the mature fruiting cones 12–35 mm (0.47–1.38 in) long containing winged seeds (samaras) 4.0–5.5 mm (0.16–0.22 in) long.
Allocasuarina luehmannii, commonly known as buloke or bull-oak, is a species of flowering plant in the family Casuarinaceae and is endemic to south-eastern continental Australia. It is a dioecious tree, that has its leaves reduced to scales in whorls of ten to fourteen, and the mature fruiting cones are 5–12 mm (0.20–0.47 in) long containing winged seeds (samaras) 4–5 mm (0.16–0.20 in) long.
Allocasuarina decaisneana, commonly known as desert oak, desert sheoak, or kurkara by the Anangu peoples, is a species of flowering plant in the family Casuarinaceae and is endemic to Central Australia. It is a dioecious tree that typically grows to a height of 10–16 m (33–52 ft) and has long, drooping branchlets, the leaves reduced to scales in whorls of four, the mature fruiting cones 28–95 mm (1.1–3.7 in) long containing winged seeds (samaras) 8.5–17 mm (0.33–0.67 in) long.
Casuarina cunninghamiana, commonly known as river oak, river sheoak or creek oak, is a species of flowering plant in the family Casuarinaceae and is native to Australia and New Guinea. It is a tree with fissured and scaly bark, sometimes drooping branchlets, the leaves reduced to scales in whorls of 6 to 10, the fruit 7–14 mm (0.28–0.55 in) long containing winged seeds (samaras) 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) long.
Casuarina glauca, commonly known as swamp she-oak, swamp buloke, swamp she-oak, marsh sheoak, grey she-oak, grey she-oak, native pine, or guman by the Gadigal people, is a species of flowering plant that is endemic to eastern Australia. It is a dioecious tree that often forms root suckers and has fissured and scaly bark, spreading or drooping branchlets, the leaves reduced to scales in whorls of 12 to 20, the fruit 9–18 mm (0.35–0.71 in) long containing winged seeds (samaras) 3.5–5.0 mm (0.14–0.20 in) long.
Allocasuarina verticillata, commonly known as drooping sheoak, is a species of flowering plant in the family Casuarinaceae and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is a small dioecious tree that has drooping branchlets up to 400 mm (16 in) long, the leaves reduced to scales in whorls of nine to thirteen, the mature fruiting cones 20–50 mm (0.79–1.97 in) long containing winged seeds 7–12 mm (0.28–0.47 in) long.
Allocasuarina littoralis, commonly known as black she-oak, is a species of flowering plant in the family Casuarinaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is dioecious, or less commonly a monoecious tree or shrub, that has its leaves reduced to scales, usually in whorls of six to eight, the mature fruiting cones 10–30 mm (0.39–1.18 in) long containing winged seeds (samaras) 4.0–10 mm (0.16–0.39 in) long.
Casuarina obesa, commonly known as swamp she-oak, swamp oak or western swamp oak, or as goolee, kweela, kwerl and quilinock by the Noongar peoples, is a species of flowering plant in the family Casuarinaceae and is endemic to southern continental Australia. It is a dioecious small tree or shrub that forms root suckers, and has drooping or spreading branchlets, the leaves reduced to scales in whorls of 12 to 16, the fruit 10–20 mm (0.39–0.79 in) long containing winged seeds (samaras) 3–5 mm (0.12–0.20 in) long.
Casuarina pauper, commonly known as black oak, belah or kariku, is a species of flowering plant in the family Casuarinaceae and is endemic to southern continental Australia. It is a dioecious tree with fissured or scaly bark, waxy branchlets, the leaves reduced to scales in whorls of 9 to 13, the fruit 13–18 mm (0.51–0.71 in) long containing winged seeds (samaras) 5.5–7.0 mm (0.22–0.28 in) long.
Azolla pinnata is a species of fern known by several common names, including mosquitofern, feathered mosquitofern and water velvet. It is native to much of Africa, Asia and parts of Australia. It is an aquatic plant, it is found floating upon the surface of the water. It grows in quiet and slow-moving water bodies because swift currents and waves break up the plant. At maximum growth rate, it can double its biomass in 1.9 days, with most strains attaining such growth within a week under optimal conditions.
Casuarina cristata, commonly known as belah or muurrgu, is a species of flowering plant in the family Casuarinaceae and is endemic to inland eastern Australia. It is a tree with fissured or scaly bark, sometimes drooping branchlets, the leaves reduced to scales in whorls of 8 to 12, the fruit 13–18 mm (0.51–0.71 in) long containing winged seeds (samaras) 6.0–10.5 mm (0.24–0.41 in) long.
Allocasuarina acutivalvis is a species of flowering plant in the family Casuarinaceae and is endemic to the southwest of Western Australia. It is a dioecious shrub to small tree that has erect branchlets, the leaves reduced to scales in whorls of 10 to 14, the fruiting cones 15–35 mm (0.59–1.38 in) long containing winged seeds (samaras) 6–12 mm (0.24–0.47 in) long.
Allocasuarina eriochlamys is a species of flowering plant in the family Casuarinaceae and is endemic to inland areas of Western Australia. It is a dense, erect, monoecious or dioecious shrub that has more or less erect branchlets, its leaves reduced to scales in whorls of eight to ten, the mature fruiting cones 20–45 mm (0.79–1.77 in) long containing winged seeds (samaras) 5.0–10.5 mm (0.20–0.41 in) long.
Allocasuarina pinaster, commonly known as compass bush, is a species of flowering plant in the family Casuarinaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a prickly, dioecious shrub resembling a pine tree and that has its leaves reduced to scales in whorls of four, the mature fruiting cones 14–25 mm (0.55–0.98 in) long, containing winged seeds 10–11 mm (0.39–0.43 in) long.
Allocasuarina muelleriana, commonly known as slaty sheoak, is a species of flowering plant in the family Casuarinaceae and is endemic to southern continental Australia. It is a dioecious, rarely a monoecious shrub that has branchlets up to 120 mm (4.7 in) long, the leaves reduced to scales in whorls of five to eight, the fruiting cones 14–30 mm (0.55–1.18 in) long containing winged seeds 6–9 mm (0.24–0.35 in) long.
Allocasuarina rigida is a species of flowering plant in the family Casuarinaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is a dioecious shrub that has branchlets up to 330 mm (13 in) long, the leaves reduced to scales in whorls of seven to ten, and the fruiting cones 8–27 mm (0.31–1.06 in) long containing winged seeds 3.0–7.5 mm (0.12–0.30 in) long.
Casuarina junghuhniana, the mountain ru or red-tipped ru, is a tree in the family Casuarinaceae that originated in Java and Lesser Sunda Islands. The species has been introduced to Pakistan and Bangladesh.
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