Allocasuarina verticillata

Native range: SA, Vic, Tas, NSW and Qld Height: 4-10 m Width: 3-7 m Flowering: Late summer and autumn Fruiting: Late summer to autumn Light: Full sun to semi-shade Growth rate: Moderate to slow, though fast in establishment of growth when young Soils: Free draining rocky soils Drought tolerance: High Landscape position: Hilltops, rocky ridges and slopes Rainfall range: 500 – 900 mm  Benefits: Drooping Sheoke (Allocasuarina verticillata) is a is very drought tolerant, long-lived, medium-sized tree with an upright to spreading canopy and pendulous needle-like branchlets. The, green branchlets are photosynthetic and act as leaves, helping reduce water loss by lowering leaf area. This trait gives high drought tolerance in the Casuarina group. Allocasuarinas have a fine root system and fix nitrogen via Frankia bacteria on their roots, increasing available nitrogen levels in the soil. The matrix of nitrogen-fixing bacteria on their root system enables them to live on poor soils and their fine root system makes them useful in managing erosion zones. They can tolerate light frosts but require good drainage and should not be planted in low-lying areas with heavy frosts and/or wet soils. Allocasuarina verticillata is a dioecious species, meaning that plants are either male or female. Female plants bear cones, and male plants produce pollen. The cones stay on branches for many years and are adapted to fire, seed being released when the cones are burnt or heated by fire. The seed in the cones is a critical food source for the Glossy Black Cockatoo (Vulnerable NSW), and the pollen is a valuable source of food for honeybees, needed to build up honey reserves to survive winter. It is also a host for many insects, providing food for birds.  It is a very useful mid-level species for shelterbelts on dry ridges and the fine foliage is effective at lowering windspeeds. The foliage can be used as a fodder crop in dry seasons. It needs to be fenced off from stock to prevent grazing during establishment and early years of growth. Plants can sucker and will reshoot after coppicing or fire.  Used in native ornamental landscape plantings they can provide dappled shade and are attractive as single feature trees or as group plantings. A useful landscape plant for poor, dry sites. The common name Sheoak refers to the similarity of Casuarina and Allocasuarina timber to European Oak. The timber is dense with deep-red coloured heartwood and attractive patterning due to radial ray cells. Reshooting creates timber with birdseye patterns, sought after for turning, inlay work and laminate. Used for fine cabinetry, craft wood and wood turning. Aboriginal uses include boomerang and didgeridoo production. Used for firewood, the timber burns hot and clean, producing excellent coals. Drawbacks: Rather slow growing. Litter can be a problem. Uses: Hardy, mid-level tree for shelterbelts Wind reduction and shelter Suited to dry sites Suited to poor and rocky soils on ridges and hilltops Erosion control  Fodder for stock during droughts Attractive ornamental species for dry sites Seeds for native birds, especially the Glossy Black Cockatoo Pollen for bees Specialty timber used in cabinetry and fine craft items Clean, hot-burning firewood Propagation: By seed. Collect from multiple individuals at multiple sites from larger populations. Collect dark brown and weathered grey-brown cones, place in paper bag to release seed. No seed treatment is necessary.  Weed risk: None Future climate risks: Higher fire frequency and intensity pose a loss of timber and food resources for threatened fauna. References AVH (2022). The Australasian Virtual Herbarium, Council of Heads of Australasian Herbaria, https://avh.chah.org.au Broadhurst, L., Seed quality of Allocasuarina verticillata (Allocasuarinaceae) populations in the Corangamite CMA. 2008. Delzoppo, N.A., Berris, K., Teixeira, D., and van Rensburg, B. 2021. The impact of fire on the quality of drooping sheoak (Allocasuarina verticillata) cones for the endangered Kangaroo Island glossy black-cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus lathami halmaturinus), Global Ecology and Conservation – https://shorturl.at/mzJL6 PlantNET (The NSW Plant Information Network System). Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, Sydney – https://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/ Woolshed Thurgoona Landcare Group website – https://wtlandcare.org/ The Wood Database – https://shorturl.at/suY36 Saving Our Species - Glossy Black-cockatoo – https://tinyurl.com/4dvawp24 Recreating the Country: Restoring wild Australia – https://shorturl.at/qvxU9