Allocasuarina littoralis
(Salisb.) L. A. S. Johnson
Black she-oak
(c) Max Campbell, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Max Campbell
(c) Scott W. Gavins, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Scott W. Gavins
(c) Proteros, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Proteros
What to Eat
Edible parts: Cones, Gum
The gum exudate from this plant is edible — it can be chewed directly or melted in hot water to make a jelly.
Where to Find It
It is a subtropical to temperate plant. Arboretum Tasmania.
Asia, Australia*, Indonesia, SE Asia, Tasmania,
How to Identify
A tree. It grows 10 m tall. It is often a low wind swept shrub near the coast. The branches are slender and 0.5 mm across. The bark is greyish-black and rough and cracked. There are 6-8 reduced leaves. The fruit are cones 1-3 cm long.
How to Grow
It can be grown from seeds.
Propagation: Seed requires no pre-treatment. Sow in containers or a nursery seedbed, barely covering the seed. Germination begins in around 7 days at 25°C. Once large enough to handle, prick seedlings out into individual pots and grow on until ready to plant out. Cuttings of half-ripe wood can also be taken in a frame.
Medicinal Uses
None known.
Other Uses
This plant tolerates salt-laden coastal winds, making it an excellent windbreak for exposed situations. It can also be grown as a hedge or screen. Its shallow, spreading root system gives it strong potential for erosion control on sandy soils. The bark is used for tanning. The wood is hard, heavy, and durable, and is used for turnery, tool handles, yokes, furniture, farm buildings, roof shingles, veneer, and joinery. It makes an excellent high-quality fuel and can be used to produce high-grade charcoal.
Wikipedia
Source ↗Allocasuarina littoralis, commonly known as black she-oak, is a species of flowering plant in the family Casuarinaceae and is endemic to eastern Australia. It is dioecious, or less commonly a monoecious tree or shrub, that has its leaves reduced to scales, usually in whorls of six to eight, the mature fruiting cones 10–30 mm (0.4–1 in) long containing winged seeds (samaras) 4.0–10 mm (0.2–0.4 in) long.
Names & Synonyms
Wayetuck
References (5)
- Baker, M. L. & de Salas, M. F., 2012, A Census of the Vascular Plants of Tasmania. (On line)
- Caton, J.M. & Hardwick, R. J., 2016, Field Guide to Useful Native Plants from Temperate Australia. Harbour Publishing House. p 40
- Edible and Useful Native Plants (off internet)
- Melzer, R. & Plumb, J., 2011, Plants of Capricornia. Belgamba, Rockhampton. p 90
- www.fsd.monash.edu.au/files/bethgottpamphley_po.pdf
