casuarina
/ˌkæsu.əˈɹiːnə/ noun, proper noun
Forms casuarinas
- noun Any of numerous trees, of the genera Casuarina and Allocasuarina, having segmented needle-like leaves; especially the ironwood and beefwood; she-oak.
- proper noun A locality in the Tweed council area, north eastern New South Wales, Australia.
Etymology
From the genus name, ultimately a derivative of Malay kasuari (“cassowary”), from the resemblance of the leaves to the bird's feathers.
Webster’s 1913
- noun A genus of leafles trees or shrubs, with drooping branchlets of a rushlike appearance, mostly natives of Australia. Some of them are large, producing hard and heavy timber of excellent quality, called beefwood from its color.
Etymology [NL., supposed to be named from the resemblance of the twigs to the feathers of the cassowary, of the genus Casuarius.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “casuarina”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details