Allocasuarina littoralis, commonly known as black sheoak, black she-oak, or river black-oak, is an endemic medium-sized Australian tree (usually up to 8 metres, but sometimes to 15 metres - coarse shrub in exposed maritime areas).[3][4] A. littoralis is named for its growth near the coast; this is somewhat misleading, as it will grow well both inland and in coastal zones.[5][6]

Allocasuarina littoralis
Allocasuarina littoralis. By Edward Minchen.
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Fagales
Family:	Casuarinaceae
Genus:	Allocasuarina
Species:	A. littoralis
Binomial name
Allocasuarina littoralis (Salisb.) L.A.S.Johnson
Occurrence data from AVH
Synonyms
Casuarina elegans Gentil[2] Casuarina filiformis Gentil Casuarina leptoclada Miq. Casuarina littoralis Salisb. Casuarina miquelii Hook.f. ex Miq. Casuarina moesta F.Muell. ex Miq. Casuarina ramuliflora Otto & A.Dietr. Casuarina suberosa Otto & A.Dietr. Casuarina suberosa Otto & Dietr.

Description

This evergreen Casaurina tree is noted for its modified branchlets appearing to be leaves (5–8 cm long) and narrow width (no more than 4 mm) and the true leaves are, in fact minute (rarely larger than 1mm) and occur on the tips of the modified branchlets.[7] It is a relatively fast growing tree (up to 800mm. a year) making it very suitable for planting along roadsides. The showy red female flowers appear in spring.[5] It is usually dioecious.

Range

The species occurs in Queensland, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Victoria, and Tasmania.[3] It grows in woodland and sometimes in tall heath, and it grows in sandy and other poor soils.[6]

References

External links

Wikispecies has information related to Allocasuarina littoralis.

• Occurrence data for Allocasuarina littoralis from The Australasian Virtual Herbarium