Casuarina

Linnaeus

Amoen. Acad. 4: 143. 1759.

Common names: She-oak
Etymology: Neo-Latin casuarius, cassowary, from resemblance of drooping branchlets to feathers of the cassowary
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 3.
Revision as of 21:51, 5 November 2020 by imported>Volume Importer
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Young persistent branchlets distinguished from deciduous branchlets by shorter segments and differences in shape or size of leaves; furrows deep and closed, concealing stomates. Infructescences pedunculate, pubescent at least when immature; bracts thin in exposed portion, not vertically expanded; bracteoles ± protruding from surface of infructescence, never greatly thickened, always lacking dorsal protuberance. Samaras pale yellow-brown or grayish, dull, glabrous. x = 9.

Distribution

Almost throughout range of family.

Discussion

Species 17 (3 in the flora).

Hybrids are frequent in cultivation; in the flora, hybrids are known between all combinations of the three species.

Selected References

None.

Key

1 Longitudinal ridges of branchlets flat or slightly rounded-convex; leaf teeth 12–17; teeth on young permanent shoots long-recurved. Casuarina glauca
1 Longitudinal ridges of branchlets prominently angular; leaf teeth (6–)7–10; teeth on young permanent shoots erect to spreading. > 2
2 Branchlets ± densely and obviously pubescent; teeth (6–)7–8, not marcescent; infructescence body 12–24 × 9–11 mm, bracteoles acute; samaras 6–8mm. Casuarina equisetifolia subsp. equisetifolia
2 Branchlets sparsely and minutely pubescent; teeth 8–10, marcescent; infructescence body 7–14 × 4–6 mm, bracteoles broad-acute; samaras 3–4 mm. Casuarina cunninghamiana subsp. cunninghamiana