Tree of the Month: Black She-oak

Wollongong area has two genera of species belonging to the Casuarinaceae family.

There are three species of Allocasuarina and two of Casuarina, and they tend to grow in different soil types and conditions.

The Allocasuarina littoralis grows along the coast on cliffs and sand dune systems. It sometimes grows on the escarpment and coastal plain. It is one of the few plants that can withstand direct salt spray.

The species is an important food source for the endangered Glossy Black Cockatoo.