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Casuarina junghuhniana Miq. occurs naturally in Indonesia where its
common is cemara (Java), and adjaob and kasuari (Timor). It is a
tall forest tree 15-25 m H and 30-50 cm diameter, that can grow up
to 35 m in height and I m in diameter.
The crown of cemara is reasonably open and consists of numerous long
deciduous branchiets bearing reduced scale leaves. It is dioecious;
individual trees are carry either male or female flowers. Male
flowers are borne on the tips of deciduous branchlets and female
"cones" in the axils of scale "leaves" on permanent shoots. This
species grows rapidly with a strong apical dominance. It has the
capacity to produce vigorous root suckers and female trees seed
abundantly.
As with other casuarinas, wood of C junghuhniana is highly suitable
for fuelwood and charcoal production. Its calorific value in
charcoal form is 7180 kcal/kg, among the highest for a firewood
species. Its wood is very heavy having an air-dry density of 900
kg/m3 .
Seed from C. junghuhniana is small with approximately 1-1.6 million
seeds per kg. No special pre-treatment is needed to germinate seed.
Like most casuarinars, seed probably loses viability quickly unless
kept in dry, cold storage. |
