Allocasuarina fraserianaCommon name: Fraser’s Sheoak

Meaning of name: Allocasuarina is from the Greek word allos, meaning other, and the genus Casuarina. It refers to a new genus containing species previously regarded as Casuarina. Fraseriana is in honour of Charles Fraser (1788 – 1831), first superintendent of the Sydney botanical gardens and colonial botanist.

Aboriginal name: Condil.

Aboriginal use: The fruiting cones were eaten. The leaves were used in bedding. Babies were placed under the trees to help them sleep.

Distribution: Occurs from Jurien Bay to Mt Manypeaks.

Description: A tree to 15 metres tall. The trees hold either male or female flowers. The male flowers are brown cylinders to 12 centimetres long and release pollen to the wind. The female flowers are inconspicuous red and feathery. The flowers are produced from May to October. The fruiting cones are brown to grey and up to 40 millimetres long.

References: Western Australian Plant Names and their Meanings, a Glossary. FA Sharr. 1996.
Flora of the Perth Region. NG Marchant, JR Wheeler, BL Rye, EM Bennett, NS Lander, TD Macfarlane. 1987.

Noongar Bush Medicine, Medicinal Plants of the South-west of Western Australia. Vivienne Hansen & John Horsfall. 2016