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ALLOCASUARINA
DUNCANII
(Allocasuarinaceae)
Duncan's she-oak
Small tree growing to 8 metres, and characterised by a conifer
shape. This endemic species is restricted to dolerite substrates in south-eastern
Tasmania, typically at altitudes of 600-700 metres.
It is reserved in the Snug Tier Nature Reserve and Wellington Park (near
Hobart), although there are two records of this species on Bruny Island in
the Mt Midway
Forest Reserve near Adventure Bay.
Once thought to be at risk of Phytopthora cinnamomi, it has been demonstrated
that this fungus is restricted where rainfall is less than 600 mm or the
mean air temperature does not exceed 7.5 deg.C which equates to an altitude
of 600 metres.
Most Duncan's She-oak occurs at this elevation, or higher. Subpopulations
at lower altitudes are usually found in
undisturbed scrub or wet forest with a closed canopy that tends to suppress
soil temperatures below that suitable for cinnamon fungus.
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