Allocasuarina dielsiana, commonly known as northern sheoak,[2] is a species of flowering plant in the family Casuarinaceae and is endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. It is a dioecious tree that has more or less erect branchlets, the leaves reduced to scales in whorls of six to eight, and the mature fruiting cones 14–30 mm (0.55–1.18 in) long containing winged seeds (samaras) 8–10 mm (0.31–0.39 in) long.
| Allocasuarina dielsiana | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fagales |
| Family: | Casuarinaceae |
| Genus: | Allocasuarina |
| Species: | A. dielsiana
|
| Binomial name | |
| Allocasuarina dielsiana | |
| |
| Occurrence data from AVH | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
|
Casuarina dielsiana C.A.Gardner | |
Description
editAllocasuarina dielsiana is usually a dioecious tree that typically grows to a height of 4–9 m (13–30 ft). Its branchlets are more or less erect, up to 200 mm (7.9 in) long, the leaves reduced to scale-like teeth 0.5–0.7 mm (0.020–0.028 in) long, arranged in whorls of six to eight around the branchlets. The sections of branchlet between the leaf whorls (the "articles") are 6–10 mm (0.24–0.39 in) long and 0.8–1.0 mm (0.031–0.039 in) wide. Male flowers are arranged in spikes 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) long, the anthers 0.8–1.1 mm (0.031–0.043 in) long. Female cones are cylindrical, softly-hairy at first, and sessile or on a peduncle up to 7 mm (0.28 in) long. Mature cones are 8–10 mm (0.31–0.39 in) long and 12–17 mm (0.47–0.67 in) in diameter, the samaras mid-brown and 8–10 mm (0.31–0.39 in) long.[2][3][4]
Taxonomy
editThis species was first formally described in 1936 by Charles Gardner who gave it the name Casuarina dielsiana in the Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia, from specimens he collected with William Blackall on the summit of Mount Singleton, (near Paynes Find) in 1931.[4][5] It was reclassified in 1982 as Allocasuarina dielsiana by Lawrie Johnson in the Journal of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens.[6] The specific epithet (dielsiana) honours Ludwig Diels.[7]
Distribution and habitat
editNorthern sheoak grows in hilly country between the Murchison River, Paynes Find and the Die Hardy Range in the Avon Wheatbelt, Coolgardie, Geraldton Sandplains, Murchison and Yalgoo bioregions of south-western Western Australia.[3][2]
Conservation status
editAllocasuarina dielsiana is listed as "not threatened" by the Government of Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.[2]
References
edit- ^ a b "Allocasuarina dielsiana". Australian Plant Census. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
- ^ a b c d "Allocasuarina dielsiana". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions.
- ^ a b "Allocasuarina dielsiana". Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment: Canberra. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
- ^ a b Gardner, Charles A. (1936). "Contributiones Florae Australiae Occidentalis, IX". Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia. 22: 119. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
- ^ "Casuarina dielsiana". APNI. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
- ^ "Allocasuarina dielsiana". APNI. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
- ^ Sharr, Francis Aubi; George, Alex (2019). Western Australian Plant Names and Their Meanings (3rd ed.). Kardinya, WA: Four Gables Press. p. 183. ISBN 9780958034180.