Casuarina
Captured from the historical species datasheet.
At a glance
Scientific nameCasuarina equisetifolia
Trade / common nameCasuarina
FamilyCasuarinaceae
RegionAustralia and New Zealand · South-Eastern Asia · South America · Melanesia · Southern Asia · Eastern Asia · Eastern Africa · Asia · South-eastern Asia · Western Africa · Caribbean · Southern Africa · Micronesia
Distribution
It has the widest distribution of all Casuarina species and occurs naturally on subtropical and tropical coastlines from northern Australia through Malyasia to Polynesia. The species is naturalized in Kenya. The extensive root material and association with Frankia enable the tree to grow in poor soils. The species grows at an altitude of 0-1400 m, with mean annual temperatures of 10-35 deg. C and mean annual rainfall of 200-3500 mm. It grows on soils which are invariably well drained and rather coarse, textured, principally sands and sand loam. The species tolerates both calcereous and slightly alkaline soils but is intolerant of prolonged waterlogging and may fail on poor sands where subsoil moisture conditions are unsatisfactory.
Uses
Agricultural implements, Beams, Boat building (general), Boat building, Boat building: framing, Boat building: masts, Broom handles, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Charcoal, Crossties, Domestic flooring, Factory construction, Factory flooring, Flooring, Foundation posts, Fuelwood, Furniture, Handles, Handles: general, Heavy construction, Joists, Ladders , Lifeboats, Light construction, Marine construction, Mine timbers, Oars, Parquet flooring, Piling, Poles, Porch columns, Posts, Pulp/Paper products, Railroad ties, Rough construction, Shafts/Handles, Shingles, Shipbuilding, Stakes, Structural work, Studs, Sub-flooring, Textile equipment, Tool handles, Utility poles, Vehicle parts, Wheel spokes, Wheels
Countries & Distribution
These country connections come directly from the same SQL country–species bridge used by Country Detail and the Global Navigator.
🇦🇺Australia
historical
🇧🇳Brunei
historical
🇨🇱Chile
historical
🇫🇯Fiji
historical
🇮🇳India
historical
🇯🇵Japan
historical
🇰🇪Kenya
historical
🇲🇾Malaysia
captured
🇲🇲Myanmar
historical
🇳🇬Nigeria
historical
🇵🇬Papua New Guinea
historical
🇵🇭Philippines
historical
🇵🇷Puerto Rico
historical
🇸🇧Solomon Islands
historical
🇿🇦South Africa
historical
🇹🇭Thailand
historical
🇺🇲United States Minor Outlying Islands
introduced
🇻🇺Vanuatu
historical
Wood images
Linked historical images associated with this species record.
Casuarina
Captured from the historical species datasheet.
Projects & Inspiration
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Project images are illustrative inspiration, not species-identification photographs. Suitability should be checked against the species data and project requirements.
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Appearance
Heartwood color
Historical source observations are shown separately; differences may reflect source, geography, test condition or publication.
Purple
Brown
Reddish brown
Red
Pale red to pink
Yellow to golden-yellow to orange
Dark brown
Light red
The heartwood often has streaky markings or a purple tinge. The color is darker in older trees
Sapwood Color
Historical source observations are shown separately; differences may reflect source, geography, test condition or publication.
White
Different than heartwood
Paler than heartwood
Well defined
Pinkish
White to yellow
Clearly differentiated from the heartwood
The sapwood is described as brownish, or a soft creamy beige in color
Luster
Historical source observations are shown separately; differences may reflect source, geography, test condition or publication.
High
Dull
Slightly lustrous
Uses & Applications
Common Uses
Agricultural implements, Beams, Boat building (general), Boat building, Boat building: framing, Boat building: masts, Broom handles, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Carvings, Charcoal, Crossties, Domestic flooring, Factory construction, Factory flooring, Flooring, Foundation posts, Fuelwood, Furniture, Handles, Handles: general, Heavy construction, Joists, Ladders , Lifeboats, Light construction, Marine construction, Mine timbers, Oars, Parquet flooring, Piling, Poles, Porch columns, Posts, Pulp/Paper products, Railroad ties, Rough construction, Shafts/Handles, Shingles, Shipbuilding, Stakes, Structural work, Studs, Sub-flooring, Textile equipment, Tool handles, Utility poles, Vehicle parts, Wheel spokes, Wheels
Product Sources
The timber is abundant within its natural range and in several warmer regions around the globe where it is cultivated. Although the wood is scarce on the U.S. market, it is fairly easy to acquire.
Full Technical Species Profile
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Protected technical content includes physical and mechanical properties, working and drying characteristics, durability data, detailed technical observations, references and methodology.