Casuarina
(supposed to be derived from the resemblance of the long, weeping, leafless branches to the drooping feathers of the Cassowary, Casuarius, which is a native of the same country as the majority of the Casuarinas). Beefwood. ORD. Casuarineae. Very interesting and remarkable greenhouse evergreen trees. Male flowers in cylindrical spikes; perianth of one or two concave or hood-shaped segments. Female flowers in globose or ovoid spikes or cones; perianth none. They thrive well in a compost of loam and peat, with a portion of sand. The stronger growing species do well in loam. Propagated by cuttings, made of half-ripened shoots, in April, and placed in sand, under a bell glass; or by seeds.
C. distyla (two-styled). fl. dioecious; scales of cones unarmed, ciliated. Branchlets ovate, round. h. 15ft. Australia, 1862. (H. F. T. i., 348.) C. equisetifolia (Equisetum-leaved). fl., scales of cones unarmed, ciliated. Branchlets flaccid, round. h. 15ft. Australia.
C. quadrivalvis (four-valved). Synonymous with C. stricta. C. stricta (upright). fl., scales of cones villous; male sheaths sub-multifid, ciliated. Young branches somewhat flaccid. h. 18ft. Australia, 1812. SYN. C. quadrivalvis. (H. F. T. i., 347.)