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Members of this family are characterized by drooping '''equisetoid''' (meaning "to look like ''[[Equisetum]]''") twigs, are [[evergreen]], and [[monoecious]] or [[dioecious]]. The roots have [[Nitrogen fixation#Biological nitrogen fixation|nitrogen-fixing]] nodules that contain the soil actinomycete ''[[Frankia]]''.
Members of this family are characterized by drooping '''equisetoid''' (meaning "to look like ''[[Equisetum]]''") twigs, are [[evergreen]], and [[monoecious]] or [[dioecious]]. The roots have [[Nitrogen fixation#Biological nitrogen fixation|nitrogen-fixing]] nodules that contain the soil actinomycete ''[[Frankia]]''.


The most widely used common name for Casuarinaceae species is '''sheoak''' or '''she-oak''' (a sexist comparison of the timber quality with [[Quercus robur|English Oak]]). Other common names include '''ironwood''', '''bull-oak''' or '''buloke''', and '''beefwood'''.<ref>Cox, P., & Freeland, J. 1969. ''Rude timber buildings in Australia.'' Thames and Hudson. ISBN 0500340358 page 18. Cox states that the name 'she-oak' is derived from Native America ''sheac'' - beefwood.</ref>
The most widely used common name for Casuarinaceae species is '''sheoak''' or '''she-oak''' (a comparison of the timber quality with [[Quercus robur|English Oak]]). Other common names include '''ironwood''', '''bull-oak''' or '''buloke''', and '''beefwood'''.<ref>Cox, P., & Freeland, J. 1969. ''Rude timber buildings in Australia.'' Thames and Hudson. ISBN 0500340358 page 18. Cox states that the name 'she-oak' is derived from Native America ''sheac'' - beefwood.</ref>


The [[Shire of Buloke]] in [[Victoria, Australia]] is named after the species ''[[Allocasuarina luehmannii]]''.
The [[Shire of Buloke]] in [[Victoria, Australia]] is named after the species ''[[Allocasuarina luehmannii]]''.

Revision as of 16:30, 19 September 2010

Casuarinaceae
Common Ironwood (Casuarina equisetifolia)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Division:
Class:
Order:
Family:
Casuarinaceae

Genera

Allocasuarina
Casuarina
Ceuthostoma
Gymnostoma

Casuarinaceae is a family of dicotyledonous flowering plants placed in the order Fagales, consisting of 3 or 4 genera and approximately 70 species of trees and shrubs native to the Old World tropics (Indo-Malaysia), Australia, and the Pacific Islands. At one time, all of the species were placed in the genus Casuarina, but these are now split among Allocasuarina, Casuarina, Ceuthostoma, and Gymnostoma. In the Wettstein system, this family was the only one placed in the order Verticillatae. Likewise, in the Engler, Cronquist and Kubitzki systems, Casuarinaceae was the only family placed in the order Casuarinales.

Members of this family are characterized by drooping equisetoid (meaning "to look like Equisetum") twigs, are evergreen, and monoecious or dioecious. The roots have nitrogen-fixing nodules that contain the soil actinomycete Frankia.

The most widely used common name for Casuarinaceae species is sheoak or she-oak (a comparison of the timber quality with English Oak). Other common names include ironwood, bull-oak or buloke, and beefwood.[1]

The Shire of Buloke in Victoria, Australia is named after the species Allocasuarina luehmannii.

Notes

  1. ^ Cox, P., & Freeland, J. 1969. Rude timber buildings in Australia. Thames and Hudson. ISBN 0500340358 page 18. Cox states that the name 'she-oak' is derived from Native America sheac - beefwood.