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biodiversity explorer

the web of life in southern Africa

Genus: Casuarina (Horsetail tree, sheoaks - part)

Life > eukaryotes > Archaeoplastida > Chloroplastida > Charophyta > Streptophytina > Plantae (land plants) > Tracheophyta (vascular plants) > Euphyllophyta > Lignophyta (woody plants) > Spermatophyta (seed plants) > Angiospermae (flowering plants) > Eudicotyledons > Core Eudicots > Rosids > Eurosid I > Order: Fagales > Family: Casuarinaceae

Seventeen species (Australasia, southeastern Asia, Pacific islands), of which two are naturalised in southern Africa, and an additional three species are cultivated in the region. The two naturalised species are Casuarina cunninghamiana (Beefwood, Kasuarisboom) and Casuarina equisetifolia (Horsetail tree, Perdestertboom) and are declared Category 2 invader plants in South Africa.

Species naturalised in southern Africa

List from Plants of Southern Africa - an Online Checklist (SANBI).

Casuarina cunninghamiana (Beefwood)

Native to eastern Australia. A declared Category 2 invader plants in South Africa.

 

Casuarina equisetifolia (Horsetail tree)

Native to Indomalesia. A declared Category 2 invader plants in South Africa.

Other species, cultivated in southern Africa

List from Glen (2002). Some of the species in Glen's list are now placed in the genus Allocasuarina.

Casuarina cristata (Belah)

Native to Australia.

 

Casuarina glauca (Swamp sheoak)

Native to eastern Australia.

 

Casuarina junghuhniana

Native to Australia.

 

Publications

  • Glen, H.F. 2002. Cultivated Plants of Southern Africa. Jacana, Johannesburg.