Beach Sheoak

Appearance

"Casuarina" is an evergreen tree growing to 6–35 m tall. The foliage consists of slender, much-branched green to grey-green twigs 0.5–1 mm diameter, bearing minute scale-leaves in whorls of 6–8.

The flowers are produced in small catkin-like inflorescences; the male flowers in simple spikes 0.7–4 cm long, the female flowers on short peduncles. Unlike most other species of "Casuarina" it is monoecious, with male and female flowers produced on the same tree. The fruit is an oval woody structure 10–24 mm long and 9–13 mm in diameter, superficially resembling a conifer cone made up of numerous carpels each containing a single seed with a small wing 6–8 mm long.

Like some other species of the genus "Casuarina", "C. equisetifolia" is an actinorhizal plant able to fix atmospheric nitrogen. In contrast to species of the plant family Fabaceae, "Casuarina" harbours a symbiosis with a "Frankia" actinomycete.

Distribution

"Casuarina" is found from Myanmar and Vietnam throughout Malesia east to French Polynesia, New Caledonia, and Vanuatu, and south into Australia (the northern parts of Northern Territory, north and east Queensland, and northeastern New South Wales, where it extends as far south as Laurieton.

Habitat

"Casuarina" is found from Myanmar and Vietnam throughout Malesia east to French Polynesia, New Caledonia, and Vanuatu, and south into Australia (the northern parts of Northern Territory, north and east Queensland, and northeastern New South Wales, where it extends as far south as Laurieton.

Uses

"Casuarina" is widely used as a bonsai subject, particularly in South-east Asia and parts of the Caribbean. Indonesian specimens and those cultivated in Taiwan are regarded among the best in the bonsai world. The wood of this tree is used for shingles, fencing, and is said to make excellent hot-burning firewood. Among the islands of Hawaii, "Casuarina" are also grown for erosion prevention, and in general as wind breaking elements.

The legendary miraculous spear "Kaumaile" came with the hero Tefolaha on the South Pacific island Nanumea. He fought with it on the islands of Samoa and Tonga. As Tefolaha died, "Kaumaile" went to his heirs, then to their heirs, and on and on - 23 generations. It is about 1.80 meters long and about 880 years old and the tree was cut on Samoa.

The "Casuarina" leaves are usually used for ornamental purposes in the urban region.

Other than ornamental purposes, the "Casuarina" was also explored in for its potential in remediation of textile dye wastewater. "Casuarina" leaves were found to be useful as absorbent material for the removal of textile dyes such as reactive orange 16 Rhodamine B, methylene blue, malachite green and methyl violet 2b. Similarly the "Casuarina" dried cone was also reported to be able to remove Rhodamine B, and methyl violet 2b. The "Casuarina" bark was reported to able to remove methylene blue. Even the "Casuarina" seed was also found to be useful in dye removal of neutral red and malachite green. The carbon derived from the cones of "Casuarina" was found to be good absorbent for the landfill leachate, while another laboratory also reported good absorbent for copper ions from aqueous solution. "Casuarina equisetifolia" Lin. has been used traditionally for treating inflammation, cancer and other diseases, but its efficacy has not been scientifically examined in treating arthritis; the bark extract showed anti-arthritic activity. Methanolic extract of "Casuarina equisetifolia" fruit contain significant percentage of secondary metabolite like poly phenol, it showed antioxidant and anti-arthritic activity. Methanolic extract of "Casuarina equisetifolia" Lin. Leaf against Ehrlich Ascites Carcinoma Induced Cancer in Mice; possess protective action on the hemopoietic system.