Casuarina junghuhniana, the mountain ru or red-tipped ru, is a tree in the family Casuarinaceae that originated in Java and the Lesser Sunda Islands. The species has been introduced to Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Description Casuarina junghuhniana is an evergreen tree growing to 15–35 m (50–115 ft) tall.Normita Thongtham. Casuarina and effects Bangkok Post, 23 February 2558. The foliage consists of slender, much-branched green to grey-green twigs 0.8–1 mm (0.032–0.039 in) diameter, bearing minute scale-leaves in whorls of 9–11. It is dioecious and the flowers are produced in small catkin-like inflorescences. The fruit is an oval woody structure, superficially resembling a conifer cone made up of numerous carpels each containing a single seed with a small wing 4–5 mm (0.16–0.2 in) long.Pl@ntUse Casuarina junghuhniana (PROSEA) Retrieved 4 January 2564. Unlike Casuarina equisetifolia, Mountain Ru (C. junghuhniana) has a narrower canopy, small and neat branches. It has a straight and knotless trunk.
Like some other species of the genus Casuarina, C. junghuhniana is an actinorhizal plant able to fix atmospheric nitrogen. In contrast to species of the plant family Fabaceae (e.g., beans, alfalfa, Acacia), Casuarina harbours a symbiosis with a Frankia actinomycete.National Academy of Sciences. Casuarinas: Nitrogen-Fixing Trees for Adverse Sites. National Academy Press, Washington D.C., 1984.
Taxonomy There are two subspecies:Winrock International. Casuarina junghuhniana – a Highly Adaptable Tropical casuarina NFTA 95-01, January 1995.
Casuarina junghuhniana subsp. junghuhniana distributed in Java, Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa and Flores Casuarina junghuhniana subsp. timorensis found in Timor, Wetar, Sumba and Sumbawa
Distribution and habitat Casuarina junghuhniana is native to Java and the Lesser Sunda Islands. The species has been introduced to Pakistan and Bangladesh as a restoration of degraded forest areas.Plants of the World, Kew Science Casuarina junghuhniana Miq. Retrieved 3 January 2564.
Uses Popularly grown as an ornamental plant and a windproof line.บ้านและสวน สนประดิพัทธ์ อมรินทร์พริ้นติ้งแอนด์พับลิชชิ่ง 4 July 2559. The wood of this tree is used for shingles, fencing, and is said to make excellent hot-burning firewood.Useful Tropical Plants Database Casuarina junghuhniana 13 June 2019.
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