Family Index

Scientific Name

Allocasuarina zephyrea

Family Name

CASUARINACEAE

Common Name

Western Scrub Sheoak

Status

Height

0.5m - 2.0m (50-200cm)

Flowers

Red-brown" tufts" of stigmas.

Fruit

Nut

Form

Shrub

Municipalities

Burnie; Central Highlands; Derwent Valley; Huon Valley; Kentish; King Island; Meander Valley; Waratah-Wynyard; West Coast

Communities

Coastal Vegetation; Heath

Habitat Notes

The first specimens were collected at Ocean Beach, Strahan and it occurs in heaths and rocky outcrops from sea-level in the west to central and SE Tas highlands as well as on King Island.

Site Tolerance

Exposed; Moist; Rocky; Windy

Frost Tolerance

Hardy

Soil Tolerance

Poor; Sandy

General Notes

Recognised as recently as 1989. Susceptible to browsing by hares and rabbits. Suitable below powerlines.

Propagation Details

Propagation Calendar

Flowering Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Seed Collecting Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Sowing Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Cutting Months

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Seed Information

Seed Collection

Winged nuts in cones.pick greyish cones from shrub, dry inpaper bags to open .sieve seed to isolate. female allocasuarinas often carry ripe or ripening fruit at most times of the year

Seed Treatment Method

Smoke

Seed Storage Life

Viable Seeds Per Gram

Seed Treatment Notes

Seed loses viability quickly once released from the cone. The seed should be sown fresh or stored at 3-5oC to maintain long term viability.

Germination Time

10-45 days

Suitable for Direct Seeding

Yes

Cuttings

Expected Time to Take Root

Expected Time to Plant Out

Propagation by Division N.B. Transplant only from nearby to avoid disease.

Cutting Notes

Can be grown from cuttings of semi-hard wood. Coppice shoots taken from cut stumps or damaged plants will strike readily.Allocasuarinas have a symbiotic relationship with a root fungi (Franklia sp.) Innoculating potting soil with divets taken from beneath mature plants may be beneficial.