Herb: River She-Oak


Latin name: Casuarina cunninghamiana


Family: Casuarinaceae (She-oak Family)



Description of the plant:



Plant:
Evergreen
Tree

Height:
18 m
(59 feet)

Flowering:
May to
June

Habitat of River She-Oak:

Usually found by freshwater streams in alluvial sands and loams. It experiences severe frosts in some parts of its range.

Other uses of the herb:

Gold, green and grey dyes are obtained from the leaves. The bark can be used as tanbark. The plant forms suckers and is a good soil stabilizer. It is much planted in Egypt for protecting roads from the sand. It is often planted along the sides of streams to protect them from erosion. In suitable climates, the plant is much used in windbreaks, shelterbelts and for land reclamation. Wood - dark, durable, closely grained, nicely marked, not as heavy as that of other members of this genus. Used for flooring, axe handles, firewood, poles etc.

Propagation of River She-Oak:

Seed - sow late winter to early summer in a greenhouse and only just cover the seed. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on in a greenhouse for at least their first winter. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts. There are 440,000 - 550,000 seeds per kilo. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame.

Cultivation of the herb:

Usually found by freshwater streams in alluvial sands and loams. It experiences severe frosts in some parts of its range.

Medicinal use of River She-Oak:

None known

Known hazards of Casuarina cunninghamiana:

None known

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future.