Allocasuarina huegeliana

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Allocasuarina huegeliana
A. huegeliana woodland near Wagin
A. huegeliana: Fruit

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fagales
Family: Casuarinaceae
Genus: Allocasuarina
Species:
A. huegeliana
Binomial name
Allocasuarina huegeliana
(
L.A.S.Johnson[2]
Occurrence data from AVH
Synonyms[2]
  • Casuarina dorrienii Domin
  • Casuarina huegeliana Miq.

Allocasuarina huegeliana, commonly known as rock sheoak[3] 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.

Description

Allocasuarina huegeliana is a dioecious tree that typically grows to a height of 4–10 m (13–33 ft) and has dark, fissured bark. Its needle-like branchlets are up to 400 mm (16 in) long, the leaves reduced to scale-like teeth 0.5–0.7 mm (0.020–0.028 in) long, arranged in whorls of eight to ten around the branchlets. The sections of branchlet between the leaf whorls (the "articles") are mostly 8–13 mm (0.31–0.51 in) long and 0.8–0.9 mm (0.031–0.035 in) wide. Male flowers are arranged in spikes 20–100 mm (0.79–3.94 in) long, in whorls of 4.5 to seven per centimetre (per 0.39 in.), the anthers 0.8–1.2 mm (0.031–0.047 in) long. Female cones are borne on a peduncle 3–5 mm (0.12–0.20 in) long. Flowering occurs from May to December or January, and the mature cones are 14–35 mm (0.55–1.38 in) long and 10–14 mm (0.39–0.55 in) in diameter containing dark brown to black samaras 5–7 mm (0.20–0.28 in) long. This species is similar to A. verticillata.[3][4][5]

Taxonomy

This species was first formally described in 1848 by

Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens.[8] The specific epithet (huegeliana) honours the collector of the type specimens.[9]

Distribution and habitat

Rock sheoak grows near granite in the south-west of Western Australia, where it in native in parts of its range, but naturalised in other places. It occurs from the

Murchison and Swan Coastal Plain bioregions of Western Australia.[3]

Conservation status

Allocasuarina huegeliana is listed as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.[3]

Use in horticulture

A. huegeliana is a moderate to fast growing tree that is

nitrogen fixing. It can be grown as a windbreak. The species thrives in well-drained soils but will do poorly in saline or poorly drained areas. The attractive and dense wood from the tree is used to make specialty furniture while the foliage is used by grazing stock as fodder. The species is drought and frost tolerant but will be killed by fire. Trees can live up an age of over 15 years.[10]

References

  1. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T172665355A172923676.en
    . Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Allocasuarina huegeliana". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  3. ^
    Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions
    .
  4. ^ "Allocasuarina huegeliana". Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Canberra. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  5. ^ "Allocasuarina verticillata". Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Canberra. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  6. ^ "Casuarina huegeliana". APNI. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  7. ^ Miquel, Friedrich A.W. (1845). Lehmann, Johann G.C. (ed.). Plantae Preissianae. Vol. 1. Hamburg: Sumptibus Meissneri. p. 640. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  8. ^ "Allocasuarina huegeliana". APNI. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  9. ISBN 9780958034180
    .
  10. ^ "Allocasuarina huegeliana". Fact Sheet. FloraBank. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
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