black-oak
Casuarina cristata Miq.
Casuarina cristata is a species of flowering plant in the family Casuarinaceae, known as black-oak. It is native to inland eastern Australia and is characterized by fissured or scaly bark, drooping branchlets, and reduced scale-like leaves in whorls of 8 to 12. The plant produces fruits 13–18 mm long, containing winged seeds (samaras) 6.0–10.5 mm long.
Description
Casuarina cristata, also known as belah or muurrgu, is a tree species in the Casuarinaceae family. It is found in regions such as New South Wales and Queensland. The species has distinctive features including fissured or scaly bark and branchlets that may droop. Its leaves are reduced to scales arranged in whorls of 8 to 12. The fruit is 13–18 mm long and contains winged seeds measuring 6.0–10.5 mm in length. The species was first described in 1848 by Miq.
Other common names
black-oak
Distribution
BR · New South Wales · Puerto Rico · Queensland
Synonyms
Casuarina cambageiCasuarina lepidophloiaCasuarina quadrivalvis var. cristata