CASUARINA EQUISETIFOLIA Linn. – Department of Forest & Wildlife UT Administration Chandigarh

Chandigarh Forests

Department of Forest & Wildlife
UT Administration
Chandigarh

CASUARINA EQUISETIFOLIA Linn.


Division	Angiosperms
Class	Dicotledons
Subclass	Apetalae
Series	Hypogynae
Order	Casuarinales
Family	Casurinaceae
Genus	Casurina
Species	equisetifolia


Etymology:	Long drooping branches resemble drooping feathers of bird Cassowary.
Botanical name:	Casuarina equisetifolia Linn.
Local/Trade Names:	Beefwood, Casuarina, Horse Tail Tree.
Conservation status:	Commonly planted in coastal areas of India also Gt. Nicobar Island.
Digonestic features:	Leaves reduced in 6-8 scales.
Description:	Large tree. Bark rough, dark-brown. Leaves reduced to minute 6-8 scales at the joints of the needles. The male and female cones fruits are borne on separate tree. The male cones are developed at the ends of green needles, but the female are produced on older wood. Female cones, almost round or elliptic with blunt points all over the surface. Seeds ca 4 mm long.
Phenology:	Fls. & Frts.: Sept.-May.
Distribution:	Indigenous coastal Bangladesh, Myanmar and Andaman & Nicobar, extending to New South Wales and Queensland. Extensively planted on sea-shore, sands of east and south India.
Where to see it:	Ornamental Flowering Section.
Uses:	Extensively cultivated for fuel. Wood used for house posts, rafters and masts of country made crafts; also for fencing. Bark astringent, used in diarrhoea and dysentery. Decoction of leaves in colic. Bark used for dyeing and tanning ( tannin 6-18%). Needles employed for making activated carbon. Tree yield a resin.

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Chief Conservator of Forests & Chief Wildlife Warden is the Head of the Department. There is one post of Conservator of Forests & two posts of Deputy Conservator of Forests viz.

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