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Casuarina equisetifolia L.
| Family Name: | Casuarinaceae |
| Common Name: | Casuarina, Common Rhu, Common Ru, Horsetail Tree, Beach She-Oak, Whistling Pine, Aru, Southsea Ironwood, Mile Tree, Australian Pine, Cemara Laut, Horsetail Casuarina, She-oak, Ru, 木麻黄 |
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Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Monocotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Tree (Big (>30m)) |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Plant Shape | Open |
| Maximum Height | 30 m to 40 m |
| Maximum Plant Spread / Crown Width | 15 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | Throughout Southeast Asia (including Singapore) to Australia and the Pacific Islands. |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Terrestrial (Coastal Forest), Shoreline (Backshore, Sandy Beach) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical, Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal |
| Local Conservation Status | Native to Singapore (Least Concern (LC)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | It is a tree with a rather open canopy, up to 40 m tall. |
|---|---|
| Foliage | The true leaves are reduced to tiny scales held in whorls, surrounding grey-green needle-like twigs. This gives rise to the pine-like appearance of the tree. |
| Flowers | Flowers are generally dioicious (male and female flowers on separate plants) although occasionally some trees are monoecious. The male flowers are tiny inconspicuous spikes borne on the ends of green twigs, while the female flowers are small brownish heads on the swollen ends of brownish twigs. |
| Fruit | The fruits are small, flattened winged nuts contained in cone-like clusters which split open when ripe. The Scaly-Breasted Munia (Lonchura punctulata) has been observed to feed on the seeds of this tree, but is probably an exception as very few birds exploit this food source. |
| Others - Plant Morphology | Native to Sinapore, and also naturalised in many parts of the tropics. A hardy, fast-growing, sun-loving pioneer species. Tolerates salt and poor soils, and is found naturally along sandy coasts. Also used as soil-improvers, as roots form nitrogen-fixing associations with soil microbes. Although it resembles a pine tree or conifer in appearance, it is actually an angiosperm (flowering plant) and not related to the non-flowering pine family at all.The crown is distinctly conical in young trees, but becomes more irregular with maturity. It has a delicate, wispy appearance. |
| Habitat | It grows along sandy coasts and coastal forests. |
| Cultivation | It can be propagated by seed. |
| Etymology | Latin Casuarina, meaning Cassowary-like, from the common Malayan name pohon kasuari (cassowary tree), as the the branches resemble the feathers of Cassuarius cassuarius. Latin equisetifolia, with leaves like a horsetail, referring to the reduced leaves of the tree along the branch, which resemble that of Equisetum species. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Food (Herb or Spice) Medicinal: The bark is used to treat dysentery and diarrhoea. The twigs are used for swelling and as a wash for beri beri. Timber & Products: The wood of this tree is extremely hard and dense, and has been used for construction of stilts, poles and fences in coastal areas. It is also an excellent fuel wood and is among the hottest burning fuel woods in the world. It is also frequently planted as a windbreak and to stabilise coastal sand dunes. |
Landscaping Features
| Landscaping | It is suitable for parks and gardens on poor infertile soils or along seashores. |
|---|---|
| Desirable Plant Features | Ornamental Form |
| Landscape Uses | Coastal, Suitable for Roadsides, Parks & Gardens, Beachfront / Shoreline |
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Pollination Method(s) | Abiotic |
|---|---|
| Seed or Spore Dispersal | Abiotic |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Moderate Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Saline Soils / Salt Spray, Well-Drained Soils, Poor Infertile Soils |
| Propagation Method | Seed |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Foliar Modification | Reduced / Needle-like, Scale-like |
| Foliar Type | Simple / Unifoliate |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Whorled |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Sessile |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage |
| Leaf Area Index (LAI) for Green Plot Ratio | 2.5 (Tree - Open Canopy) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Unisexual Flowers , Monoecious |
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
|---|
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Fruit Colour(s) | Brown |
|---|---|
| Fruit Type | Indehiscent Dry Fruit , Samara |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 1500 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 2793 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
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