Casuarina equisetifolia

Why are the seeds of this species difficult? The seeds present no inherent problems in storage or germination. However, if they have not been properly dried and stored under optimal conditions, storage life and viability will be reduced.

Casuarina equisetifolia (Image: S. Wood, RBG Kew)

Seed Storage

This species has Orthodox seeds - dry to 15-20% eRH and store at -20ºC, or as cool as possible.

Germination Requirements

Germinate on agar, germination paper or sand at 25ºC.

The seeds of this species do not display dormancy (inferred from available information on germination and of characteristics of seeds in this family).

Seed Morphology

Casuarina equisetifolia
(Image: S. Wood, RBG Kew)

The fruit (6-8 mm long) is a grey or yellow-brown winged nut, with a single seed.

See other images of this species at VIRBOGA (The Virtual Botanic Garden).

Taxonomy

Family: CASUARINACEAE

Accepted name: Casuarina equisetifolia L.

Synonyms: Casuarina litorea L. ex Fosberg & Sachet, Casuarina equisetifolia J.R.Forst. & G.Forst.

Common name: aru, beach she oak, beechwood, horsetail tree, ironwood, roe, toa

References and Links

Baskin, C.C. and Baskin J.M. (1998). Seeds: ecology, biogeography, and evolution of dormancy and germination. Academic Press, USA.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (1994). Genebank Standards. FAO/IPGRI, Rome, Italy.

AFPD (African Flowering Plants Database) - Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques de la Ville de Genève, Switzerland, and South African National Biodiversity Institute, Pretoria, RSA: Casuarina equisetifolia.
Forest & Landscape Denmark - University of Copenhagen, Denmark: seed leaflet on Casuarina equisetifolia.
PROTAbase (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa) - Wageningen, Netherlands: Casuarina equisetifolia.
SID (Seed Information Database) - Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK: Casuarina equisetifolia.
Tropicos - Missouri Botanical Garden, USA: Casuarina equisetifolia.