Black she-oak
Allocasuarina littoralis

Family: Casuarinaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 10 m tall. It is often a low wind swept shrub near the coast. The branches are slender and 0.5 mm across. The bark is greyish-black and rough and cracked. There are 6-8 reduced leaves. The fruit are cones 1-3 cm long.

Where it is found

It is a subtropical to temperate plant. Arboretum Tasmania.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia (country/location of origin), Indonesia, SE Asia, Tasmania

How it is used for food

The gum exudate is chewed and also the jelly made by melting the gum in hot water. The cones are boiled to removed tannins and then eaten.

Edible parts

Cones, gum

How it is grown

It can be grown from seeds.

Its other names

Local names

Wayetuck

Synonyms

Casuarina elegans Gentil; Casuarina filiformis Gentil; Casuarina leptoclada Miq.; Casuarina littoralis Salisb.; Casuarina miquelii Hook.f. ex Miq.; Casuarina moesta F. Muell. ex Miq.; Casuarina ramuliflora Otto & A. Dietr.; Casuarina suberosa Otto & A. Dietr.;