Plants of
South Australia
Allocasuarina robusta
Casuarinaceae
Mount Compass Oak-bush
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Regional Species Conservation Assessments per IBRA subregion.
Least concern
Near threatened
Rare
Vulnerable
Endangered
Critically endangered
Extinct
Data deficient
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Prior names

Casuarina paludosa var. robusta

Common names

Mount Compass Oak-bush

Etymology

Allocasuarina from the Greek 'allos' meaning other or different, indicating the relationship with the genus Casuarina (first used by Rumphius (1743) in allusion to the supposed resemblance of the "foliage" of Casuarina equisetifolia to the plumage of the Cassowary, which is from the Malay 'kesuari', later being latinised as Casuarius). Robusta from Latin meaning well developed, robust.

Distribution and status

Endemic to South Australia and found only in the Mount Compass area on the Fleurieu Peninsula, restricted to a wet roadside depression. Native. Very rare in South Australia.
Herbarium region: Southern Lofty
AVH map: SA distribution map (external link)

Plant description

Monoecious, multi-branching shrub to 2 m tall. Articles (stem segment) terete, smooth to 12 mm long and 1.1 mm diameter with 5-7 spreading teeth (reduced leaves) around the end, not overlapping at the base. Male spikes to 4.5 cm long, dense, with 5-9 whorls per cm. Female flower red-brown to 1.2 mm long. Fruits are small, woody round cone with numerous valves. Seeds are smooth semi-flat black seed to 3 mm long with a papery wing at one end. Seed embryo type is investing.

Seed collection and propagation

Collect seeds between January and December. Cones can be collected anytime as mature cones remain on the female plant. Collect cones that have closed valves from the lower part of the stem as these are more mature. Place cones in a paper bag and leave to dry for 2-3 weeks. This will allow the valves to dry and open, releasing the seeds. Then place the cones in a bucket and shake gently to dislodge the seeds. Use a sieve to separate seeds from unwanted material. Store the seeds with a desiccant such as dried silica beads or dry rice, in an air tight container in a cool and dry place. Seed viability is medium to high. Seeds are non-dormant, viable seed should germinate readily.

Seeds stored:
  Hide
LocationNo. of seeds
(weight grams)		Number
of plants		Date
collected		Collection number
Collection location		Date
stored		% ViabilityStorage
temperature
BGA 
MSB		11,900 (19.8 g)
11,900 (19.8 g)		30+23-Jan-2004DJD5
Southern Lofty		1-Sep-200460%-18°C
BGA29,300 (52.07 g)2523-Jan-2008DJD1045
Southern Lofty		19-Sep-200845%+5°C, -18°C
BGA8,900 (14.94 g)4012-Jan-2009DJD1459
Southern Lofty		20-Jul-200970%-18°C
BGA1,380 (2.54 g)14-Dec-201818
Southern Lofty		24-Apr-2019N/C-18°C
BGA1,600 (2.97 g)24-Dec-201824
Southern Lofty		24-Apr-2019N/C-18°C
BGA2,990 (5.47 g)85-Dec-201816
Southern Lofty		24-Apr-2019N/C-18°C
BGA1,700 (3.13 g)34-Dec-201826
Southern Lofty		24-Apr-2019N/C-18°C
BGA7,300 (13.38 g)404-Dec-201827
Southern Lofty		24-Apr-2019N/C-18°C
BGA1,470 (2.69 g)13-Dec-201815
Southern Lofty		24-Apr-2019N/C-18°C
BGA4,500 (8.29 g)124-Dec-201825
Southern Lofty		24-Apr-2019N/C-18°C
BGA3,500 (6.43 g)93-Dec-20182
Southern Lofty		24-Apr-2019N/C-18°C
BGA3,050 (5.58 g)63-Dec-20184
Southern Lofty		24-Apr-2019N/C-18°C
BGA3,300 (6.13 g)104-Dec-201829
Southern Lofty		24-Apr-2019N/C-18°C
BGA2,200 (4.09 g)33-Dec-20185
Southern Lofty		24-Apr-2019N/C-18°C
BGA1,950 (3.58 g)43-Dec-20186
Southern Lofty		24-Apr-2019N/C-18°C
BGA1,880 (3.45 g)45-Dec-201812
Southern Lofty		24-Apr-2019N/C-18°C
BGA3,070 (5.63 g)83-Dec-201814
Southern Lofty		24-Apr-2019N/C-18°C
BGA5,000 (9.15 g)133-Dec-20183
Southern Lofty		24-Apr-2019N/C-18°C
BGA9,400 (17.36 g)403-Dec-20181b
Southern Lofty		24-Apr-2019N/C-18°C
BGA1,880 (3.43 g)93-Dec-20181a
Southern Lofty		24-Apr-2019N/C-18°C
BGA8,800 (16.17 g)404-Dec-201121a
Southern Lofty		24-Apr-2019N/C-18°C
BGA4,400 (8.06 g)174-Dec-201828b
Southern Lofty		24-Apr-2019N/C-18°C
BGA9,800 (17.94 g)504-Dec-201830
Southern Lofty		24-Apr-2019N/C-18°C
BGA1,500 (2.79 g)14-Dec-201828c
Southern Lofty		24-Apr-2019N/C-18°C
BGA1,450 (2.67 g)25-Dec-201813b
Southern Lofty		24-Apr-2019N/C-18°C
BGA1,900 (3.55 g)44-Dec-201828a
Southern Lofty		24-Apr-2019N/C-18°C
BGA1,900 (3.61 g)55-Dec-201810a
Southern Lofty		24-Apr-2019N/C-18°C
BGA4,800 (8.75 g)225-Dec-201813a
Southern Lofty		24-Apr-2019N/C-18°C
BGA3,650 (6.69 g)84-Dec-201831
Southern Lofty		24-Apr-2019N/C-18°C
BGA2,780 (5.1 g)45-Dec-201810b
Southern Lofty		24-Apr-2019N/C-18°C
BGA2,450 (4.48 g)115-Dec-201811b
Southern Lofty		24-Apr-2019N/C-18°C
BGA2,260 (4.15 g)25-Dec-201811a
Southern Lofty		24-Apr-2019N/C-18°C
BGA3,000 (5.55 g)54-Dec-201819
Southern Lofty		28-Jun-2021N/C-18°C
BGA8,900 (16.35 g)194-Dec-201817
Southern Lofty		28-Jun-2021N/C-18°C
BGA8,000 (14.75 g)165-Dec-201816
Southern Lofty		28-Jun-2021N/C-18°C
BGA2,400 (4.55 g)64-Dec-201820
Southern Lofty		28-Jun-2021N/C-18°C
BGA3,400 (6.30 g)55-Dec-201810a
Southern Lofty		28-Jun-2021N/C-18°C
BGA1,800 (3.45 g)23-Dec-201815
Southern Lofty		28-Jun-2021N/C-18°C
BGA4,500 (8.25 g)55-Dec-201810b
Southern Lofty		28-Jun-2021N/C-18°C
BGA5,500 (10.15 g)65-Dec-201824
Southern Lofty		28-Jun-2021N/C-18°C
BGA28,800 (52.75 g)705-Dec-201823
Southern Lofty		28-Jun-2021N/C-18°C
BGA3,000 (5.60 g)53-Dec-20185
Southern Lofty		28-Jun-2021N/C-18°C
BGA2,600 (4.85 g)115-Dec-201811b
Southern Lofty		28-Jun-2021N/C-18°C
BGA2,800 (5.15 g)53-Dec-20184
Southern Lofty		28-Jun-2021N/C-18°C
BGA7,100 (13.00 g)123-Dec-20183
Southern Lofty		28-Jun-2021N/C-18°C
BGA4,000 (7.40 g)83-Dec-20186
Southern Lofty		28-Jun-2021N/C-18°C
BGA3,400 (6.25 g)65-Dec-20187
Southern Lofty		28-Jun-2021N/C-18°C
BGA650 (1.20 g)55-Dec-201812
Southern Lofty		28-Jun-2021N/C-18°C
BGA3,000 (5.50 g)65-Dec-20189
Southern Lofty		28-Jun-2021N/C-18°C
BGA6,500 (11.90 g)225-Dec-20188
Southern Lofty		28-Jun-2021N/C-18°C
BGA3,600 (6.70 g)83-Dec-201814
Southern Lofty		28-Jun-2021N/C-18°C
BGA320 (0.60 g)14-Dec-201821d
Southern Lofty		28-Jun-2021N/C-18°C
BGA1,900 (3.50 g)34-Dec-201822d
Southern Lofty		28-Jun-2021N/C-18°C
BGA18,800 (34.50 g)514-Dec-201822c
Southern Lofty		28-Jun-2021N/C-18°C
BGA10,300 (18.85 g)154-Dec-201822b
Southern Lofty		28-Jun-2021N/C-18°C
BGA9,900 (18.25 g)224-Dec-201822e
Southern Lofty		28-Jun-2021N/C-18°C
BGA1,000 (2.00 g)34-Dec-201822f
Southern Lofty		28-Jun-2021N/C-18°C
BGA3,400 (6.30 g)63-Dec-20182
Southern Lofty		28-Jun-2021N/C-18°C
BGA5,600 (10.35 g)155-Dec-201822h
Southern Lofty		28-Jun-2021N/C-18°C
BGA730 (1.35 g)15-Dec-201822g
Southern Lofty		28-Jun-2021N/C-18°C
BGA710 (1.30 g)34-Dec-201822a
Southern Lofty		28-Jun-2021N/C-18°C
BGA9,500 (17.50 g)194-Dec-201821f
Southern Lofty		28-Jun-2021N/C-18°C
BGA14,200 (26.15 g)473-Dec-20181b
Southern Lofty		28-Jun-2021N/C-18°C
BGA3,300 (6.10 g)153-Dec-20181a
Southern Lofty		28-Jun-2021N/C-18°C
BGA1,600 (3.00 g)45-Dec-201813b
Southern Lofty		28-Jun-2021N/C-18°C
BGA23,100 (42.40 g)404-Dec-201821a
Southern Lofty		28-Jun-2021N/C-18°C
BGA3,600 (6.60 g)64-Dec-201821b
Southern Lofty		28-Jun-2021N/C-18°C
BGA2,200 (4.15 g)54-Dec-201821e
Southern Lofty		28-Jun-2021N/C-18°C
BGA300 (0.55 g)24-Dec-201821c
Southern Lofty		28-Jun-2021N/C-18°C
BGA11,900 (21.85 g)275-Dec-201813a
Southern Lofty		28-Jun-2021N/C-18°C
BGA3,000 (5.60 g)55-Dec-201811a
Southern Lofty		28-Jun-2021N/C-18°C
BGA3,800 (7.465 g)1513-Apr-2022TST1493
Southern Lofty		7-Jul-202270%-18°C
Location: BGA — the seeds are stored at the Adelaide Botanic Gardens, MSB — the seeds are stored at the Millennium Seed Bank, Kew, England.
Number of plants: This is the number of plants from which the seeds were collected.
Collection location: The Herbarium of South Australia's region name.
% Viability: Percentage of filled healthy seeds determined by a cut test or x-ray.
Germination table:
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We acknowledge the contributions of the South Australian Seed Conservation Centre, the Botanic Gardens of South Australia, and the Department for Environment and Water.