Trees of Australia - the She-Oak
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (342336)
Rockingham, Australia
June 10, 2016 12:52am CST
Another of Australia's attractive trees is the she-oak or Allocasuarina. They have long, segmented branchlets which look like pine needles and the leaves are minute scales which encircle each segment. When the tree loses its 'leaves', they form a mat underneath. Walking through an area of she-oaks is a bit spooky as the mat deadens any noise.
The woody fruits, which you can see in the photo, appear only on the female trees. Nodules on the roots possess nitrogen-fixing bacteria. This, combined with the drought-adapted foliage allows the she-oak to thrive in very poor soil and in areas of little rain. For these reasons and also because of the extensive root systems, she-oaks are useful in stabilising erosion prone areas.
The wood is popular among wood-turners and has a lovely grain. As a firewood it produces very little ash.
23 people like this
22 responses
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
10 Jun 16
Those fruits look like pine cones. In fact your description makes them sound like pine trees.
4 people like this
@JudyEv (342336)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Jun 16
It was hard to explain exactly what it looked like - and 'pine' seemed nearest. Here's another photo - which actually doesn't help much. 
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
10 Jun 16
wow! the fruits look like pine cones! i'd sure love to've me some'f those growin' 'round here. amazin' that they burn so well's to not leave lots'f ash. 'd not mind me some cabinetry made'f such, but then there's many tree species'n yer country that're quite beautiful fer such :)
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
11 Jun 16
@JudyEv i knew i should'a went to yer neck'f the woods when i'd the chance many years 'go! sigh...
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342336)
• Rockingham, Australia
11 Jun 16
@crazyhorseladycx What a pity you didn't. I don't suppose we'll ever get to America now - not unless our son moves there which isn't likely.
1 person likes this
@ElusiveButterfly (45940)
• United States
15 Jun 16
How tall can the tree get? I love the look of the woody fruits that grow on it.
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
12 Jun 16
it's kinda wild, to me that looks more like a pine tree, and not what we consider an oak!
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
12 Jun 16
@JudyEv yeah I was wondering that myself
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (50591)
• United States
12 Jun 16
It has pine cones like our pine trees.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342336)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Jun 16
These are very small though - about an inch long.
@garymarsh6 (23412)
• United Kingdom
11 Jun 16
They do look like pine cones. Another nice photo. So clear.
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21852)
• Canada
17 Jun 16
The fruit looks like pine cones too, such an interesting tree. Thanks for that share...
1 person likes this
@acelawrites (19272)
• Philippines
11 Jun 16
Very interesting facts about the she-oak tree! It is very resilient because of its characteristics. Hope it thrives well to prevent soil erosion and it can also fertilize the soil with its leaves on the ground.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342336)
• Rockingham, Australia
12 Jun 16
We have an area of she-oaks near us. It is interesting to walk through them as it is very silent and quite eerie.
@josie_ (10032)
• Philippines
10 Jun 16
There were a lot of Pine trees here in Baguio (City of Pines) before they were cut down to make space for people. I remember coming up from the lowlands as a child, The fragrant smell of Pine trees would tell me I was nearing my destination. The pine cone is not as elongated as those of the she-oak in your photo. I'm also wondering if the tree gives off any pleasant aroma like that of the Pine tree.
1 person likes this
@PatZAnthony (14749)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
11 Jun 16
These look similar to some we have growing here. No clue what they are called.
@gr8nana6 (6614)
• Conyers, Georgia
10 Jun 16
Another quite interesting tree from your neck of the woods. I would love to visit Australia some day and take a walkabout in the Outback.
@just4him (317385)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
10 Jun 16
The woody fruit looks like pine cones. It does have that spooky quality look to it. Very nice picture.
@teamfreak16 (43418)
• Denver, Colorado
10 Jun 16
We live downstream from a burn scar that could definitely use these to stabilize.
