RARE AND RUGGED SHE-OAKS #2
 


Allocasuarina duncanii

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.
Allocasuarina duncanii flowers

RARE AND RUGGED SHE-OAKS#1

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