90 Forage Plants of Australia. 



ORDER CASUARINE.E. 



CASUARINA SUBEROSA " OTT. ET DIETE." 



"Erect She Oak," or "Forest Oak." 



Flora Austr., Vol. J r , p. 197. 



AN erect-growing tree which attains a height of 40 feet, generally distributed 

 over the eastern portions of the Colony. Its specific name, " suberosa," 

 would imply that the tree was corky, which is by no means the case. This 

 tree is dioecious, that is the sexes are borne in different flowers by distinct 

 individuals. At times, however, it is monoecious when the unisexual flowers 

 are borne on different parts of the same tree. The males have a perianth 

 of one or two concave segments, which are forced off by the development of 

 the one stamen. These are arranged on slender interrupted terminal spikes, 

 as shown in figure 1 of our engraving. In the females there are no perianths ; 

 but each style has two very long filiform stigmatic branches, as shown in the 

 larger branch of our engraving. At figure 2 is illustrated the matured cone, 

 which is oblong and truncate (cut off) at both ends. Stock are fond of brows- 

 ing upon the younger branches of this tree, and at the season the male tree is in 

 flower the inflorescence (which is deciduous) falls to the ground in quantities ; 

 and it is a common sight to see numbers of sheep feeding upon it as it falls. 

 The timber of the species under notice is of a dark brown colour, prettily 

 marked, coarse in grain, but tough, and is used for a variety of purposes, such 

 as making hurdles, tool handles, bullock-yokes, mauls, shingles, &c. Its very 

 prettily marked timber has also been used for veneers, but it is very liable 

 to split when cut up into thin boards. According to Baron Von Mueller, a 

 ton of the dried wood of this tree yields about 7i Ib. of pearl ash, or 4| Ib. 

 of pure potash. 



The tree produces seed in abundance ; and the seeds germinate readily 

 whether grown under artificial conditions or left to nature. But when the 

 seedlings are left to take care of themselves cattle and sheep often browse 

 them down before they have a chance to grow into timber. Consequently 

 the tree is not as plentiful as it used to be, though it is well worth conser- 

 vation, and even cultivation. The seeds may be sown in prepared beds in 

 the early autumn, or early spring months, and when the seedlings are large 

 enough to handle, transplanted to their permanent quarters during favour- 

 able weather. 



