23. Belah

Casuarina cristata [Casuarina = cassowary (branchlets resemble birds feathers), cristata = crested (seed cones)]
A tough tree with leaves that are tiny teeth on the green branchlets. The male and female flowers are different and not always on the one tree. The seed in small woody cones is an important source of food for the Glossy Black Cockatoo which is very specific in its foods. It is also the smallest of the black cockatoos, and uncommon. The Belah is a useful fodder tree for stock but can cause impaction. While it needs heavy rain to bring up seedlings, it does at times cause problems with suckering. The timber is dark brown, polishes well, makes good fence posts of moderate lifespan, and is good fuel.
Australian casuarinas are being planted in Egypt on drippers, in a revegetation project.
Family CASUARINACEAE

for more, see Belah [June 2010]