Casuarina

Casuarina
Casuarina equisetifolia, showing red female flowers and mature fruits
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Fagales
Family: Casuarinaceae
Genus: Casuarina
L.
Species

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Casuarina is a genus of 17 tree species in the family Casuarinaceae. They are native to Australia, the Indian subcontinent, southeast Asia, islands of the western Pacific Ocean, and eastern Africa.

This was once the only genus in the family, but it is now split into four genera.

They are evergreen shrubs and trees growing to 35 m (115 ft) tall.

The flowers have no petals. They are in small catkin-like inflorescences. Most species are dioecious, but a few are monoecious.

The fruit is a woody, oval structure. It looks a bit like a conifer cone. It has many carpels, each with a single seed and a small wing.[1][2]

References

  1. Wilson, K.L.; Johnson, L.A.S. (1989). "Flora of Australia online: Casuarinaceae". ABRS, Commonwealth of Australia. Archived from the original on 30 December 2012. Retrieved 3 November 2018.
  2. Huxley A., ed. (1992). New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. Macmillan. ISBN 0-333-47494-5.