Latin casuarinus—cassowary, referring to the resemblance of the foliage to the feathers of the cassowary.

See key to genera for differences from Allocasuarina. Seed short-lived (cf. Allocasuarina)

Seed.

Once a source of timber.

Number of leaf teeth at the leaf joints; shape, size and structure of the cone valves; length of male flower spikes.

17 species from SE Asia, Malesia, Polynesia, New Caledonia, and Australia, 6 species widespread in Australia, mostly on relatively fertile soils.

Johnson (1982), Wilson & Johnson (1989).

Source: Spencer, R. (1997). Casuarinaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 2. Flowering plants. Dicotyledons. Part 1. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.