Flolape

Desert oak

Allocasuarina decaisneana (F.Muell.) L.A.S.Johnson
Desert oak
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-SA-4.0)

Allocasuarina decaisneana, known as desert oak, is a flowering plant in the Casuarinaceae family. It is native to Central Australia and grows up to 10–16 m tall. The species is dioecious, with leaves reduced to scales in whorls of four and fruiting cones 28–95 mm long containing winged seeds.

Description

Allocasuarina decaisneana, or desert oak, is a tree species found in the Northern Territory, South Australia, and Western Australia. It has long, drooping branchlets and produces samaras 8.5–17 mm long. The plant is known as kurkara by the Anangu peoples. It was first described in 1982 by L.A.S. Johnson, based on earlier work by F.Muell.

Other common names

Desert oak

Distribution

Global · Northern Territory · South Australia · Western Australia

Synonyms

Casuarina decaisneana

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