Casuarina junghuhniana

Casuarina junghuhniana, the mountain ru or red-tipped ru, is a tree in the family Casuarinaceae that originated in Java and the Lesser Sunda Islands. The species has been introduced to Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Description

Casuarina junghuhniana is an evergreen tree growing to 15–35 m tall. The foliage consists of slender, much-branched green to grey-green twigs 0.8–1 mm diameter, bearing minute scale-leaves in whorls of 9–11. It is dioecious and the flowers are produced in small catkin-like inflorescences. The fruit is an oval woody structure, superficially resembling a conifer cone made up of numerous carpels each containing a single seed with a small wing 4–5 mm long. Unlike Casuarina equisetifolia, Mountain Ru has a narrower canopy, small and neat branches. It has a straight and knotless trunk.
Like some other species of the genus Casuarina, C. junghuhniana is an actinorhizal plant able to fix atmospheric nitrogen. In contrast to species of the plant family Fabaceae, Casuarina harbours a symbiosis with a Frankia actinomycete.

Taxonomy

There are two subspecies:Casuarina junghuhniana subsp. junghuhniana distributed in Java, Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa and FloresCasuarina junghuhniana ''subsp. timorensis'' found in Timor, Wetar, Sumba and Sumbawa

Distribution and habitat

Casuarina junghuhniana is native to Java and the Lesser Sunda Islands. The species has been introduced to Pakistan and Bangladesh as a restoration of degraded forest areas.

Uses

Popularly grown as an ornamental plant and a windproof line. The wood of this tree is used for shingles, fencing, and is said to make excellent hot-burning firewood.