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Image Credit: Anna Povey – with permission
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Image Credit: Gill Basnett – with permission
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Image Credit: Anna Povey – with permission
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Image Credit: Anna Povey – with permission
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Image Credit:Anna Povey – with permission
Scientific Name: Allocasuarina littoralis
Common Name: black sheoak
Family Classification (Clade): Eudicots
Family: Casuarinaceae
Form Description: Shrub or small tree.
Flowers: Male and female flowers on different trees. Female: tiny brush-like clusters of reddish stigmas. Male: stamens in spikes at tips of branches.
Fruit: Woody cone – smooth cylindrical cones 2-2.5 cm long enclosing seed – a winged nut.
Municipality
Plant Communities
Habitat Notes
On dry hills and in the understorey of forests along the east coast. It is most common on sandy soils but also occurs in grassy forests on dolerite. Will tolerate moderate exposure.
Site Tolerance
Dry, Exposed, Shady, Windy
Soil Tolerance
Loam, Nutrient-poor, Sandy, Well-drained
Frost Tolerance
Hardy
General Notes
Health and vigour of seedlings, plus faster development, can be enhanced by inoculating potting or seed raising mix with 3-5 divots (depending on quantity of soil being made up) of soil removed from spade depth at drip-line of an Allocasuarina tree. Suitable for control of erosion and to provide soil stabilization. Also suitable for street planting. Bird attracting. Resistant to Phytophthora cinnamomi. Susceptible to browsing by hares and rabbits.
Propagation Calendar
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Flowering Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec -
Seed Collecting Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec -
Sowing Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec -
Cutting Month
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Propagation Method
Seed Information
Seed Collection
Cones turn from reddish-brown to greyish-brown and have well-developed valves when ripe.
Seed Treatment Method
Standard Scatter seed thinly on to damp potting mix. Hold seed in place by covering with more potting mix to approximately the depth of the seed size.
Seed Storage Life
5-10 years
Seed Treatment Notes
Seed has good to very good results. It loses viability quickly once released from the cone and should be stored at 3-5°C to maintain long term viability. Recommended temperature for propagation 25-30°C.
Germination Time
10-45 days
Cutting & Division Information
Coppice shoots from stumps etc. will root. Remove with callus tissue, trim and set in 1:1:1 sand:perlite:cocopeat mix. Use liquid hormone – hard wood strength. Difficult from cuttings. Unless a special form is needed to be duplicated, use seed.