pohon kasuari, cassowary tree

Description:

Pohon kasuari (cassowary tree) is the local (Indonesian) name for this common tree of Papua, named for the superficial similarity of the foliage and the feathers of the cassowary. Featured also in this spotting are the spectacular spikey fruits of this species. Casuarina is a genus of 17 species in the family Casuarinaceae, native to Australasia, the Indian Subcontinent, southeast Asia, and islands of the western Pacific Ocean. The most widespread species is Casuarina equisetifolia, but there are other species in New Guinea as well.

Habitat:

Dozens of the trees were growing about the former school campus in an under-developed part of Biak town, Biak Island. This is the equatorial tropics.