Common Name:

General Information

Allocasuarina luehmannii is an evergreen tree growing around 5 - 15 metres tall[]. The erect bole can be 30 - 70cm in diameter[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for use of its timber.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Australia - Victoria, South Australia, New South Wales, Queensland

Habitat

An understorey tree in open woodland, usually scattered but sometimes forming denser stands, on a wide range of soils but mainly on sand and avoiding calcareous soils; at elevations up to 800 metres[, ].

Properties

Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	10.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Allocasuarina luehmannii is found from the tropics of northeast Queensland to the warm temperate climate of Victoria. It is found mainly in the warm sub-humid climatic zone and with only a limited extension into the warm semi-arid zone in the south of its range. The mean maximum temperature of the hottest month is 29 - 35°c and that of the coldest month 2 - 4°c. The average number of days when 32°c is exceeded is 22 - 90 and 3 - 17 days for over 37°c. Up to 50 heavy frosts can occur in a year, though the average is around 4 - 18[]. Mean annual rainfall is usually around 425 - 650mm, though can be as low as 100mm or up to 1,150mm[].
Whilst the species grows mainly on sandy soils and light loams in the wild, it has been reported from a wide range of soils including solodic soils, red brown earths, brown soils of heavy texture, stony and gravelly types, inland sandhills and non-calcareous soils[]. In the wild the plants are often found in soils markedly deficient in nutrients[]. There are reports that the plant can withstand wind, drought, poorly aerated soils, seasonal inundation and moderate salinity[].
Early growth is relatively fast when growing on moderately good sites[].
Under some conditions the species develops a suckering habit[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant can provide satisfactory but somewhat open shelterbelt protection[].

Other Uses

The heartwood is red, with rather coarse grain and prominent medullary rays. It is very heavy, hard and of moderate durability. The sapwood is resistant to lyctid borer attack. It does not season readily and is susceptible to splitting. The wood has been used for roofing shingles, flooring, fancy turnery and fencing[].
The wood makes an excellent fuel[].

Propagation

Seed - sow spring in a greenhouse. The optimum temperature for germination is 25°c[]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in the greenhouse for their first winter. Plant them out in late spring or early summer.
Division in spring. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions. We have found that it is best to pot up smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame until they are growing away well. Plant them out in the summer or the following spring.
Basal cuttings in late spring. Harvest the shoots with plenty of underground stem when they are about 8 - 10cm above the ground. Pot them up into individual pots and keep them in light shade in a cold frame or greenhouse until they are rooting well. Plant them out in the summer.