The Casuarinaceae are a family of placed in the order Fagales, consisting of four genera and 91 species[ Allocasuarina in 1982,][ and Ceuthostoma in 1988, with some additional formal descriptions of new species in each other genus.][ At the time, it was somewhat controversial. The monophyly of these genera was later supported in a 2003 phylogenetic study of the family.][ In the Wettstein system, this family was the only one placed in the order Verticillatae. Likewise, in the Engler system, Cronquist system, and , the Casuarinaceae were the only family placed in the order Casuarinales.
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Members of this family are characterized by drooping equisetoid (meaning "looking like Equisetum"; that is, horsetail) twigs, evergreen foliage, Monoecy or dioecious and Infructescence strobilus or cone-like, meaning combining many outward-pointing valves, each containing a seed, into roughly spherical, cone-like, woody structures. The roots have nitrogen-fixing nodules that contain the soil actinomycete Frankia.
In Australia, the most widely used common name for Casuarinaceae species is sheoak or she-oak (a comparison of the timber quality with Quercus robur). Other common names in Australia include ironwood, bull-oak or buloke, beefwood,[ Cox states that the name 'she-oak' is derived from Native America sheac — beefwood.] or cassowary tree.
The Shire of Buloke in Victoria, Australia, is named after the species Allocasuarina luehmannii.
Systematics
Modern molecular phylogenetics suggest the following relationships:
External links
