Coastal Sheoak

 

 The Coastal Sheoak (Casuarina equisetifolia) was officially described by Carl Linnaeus in 1759. The specific name equisetifolia is derived from the Latin equisetum, meaning "horse hair" (referring to the resemblance of the drooping branchlets to horse tail). The Coastal Sheoak can be found along the coast from the Northern Territory to Sydney, New South Wales. It is also found in Vietnam, Malaysia, New Caledonia and Vanuatu. The Coastal Sheoak can grow from 6 - 35 metres in height and averages 50cm in diameter.

 

The brown male and red female flowers are produced on the same tree which produces berries, flowers and leaves. That are eaten by Red-tailed Black Cockatoos and Rainbow Lorikeets. The Coastal Sheoak can survive off very little water, but competes with other organisms for space, sunlight and nutrients. The sheoak is very tall, strong and opened branched; it produces high quality firewood that burns with great heat and has been called the best firewood in the world. It splits easily and burns readily, even when green, has low ash content and makes excellent charcoal.