Word Study
casuarina
CIDE DICTIONARY
casuarina, n. [NL., supposed to be named from the resemblance of the twigs to the feathers of the cassowary, of the genus Casuarius
A genus of leafless 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. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
casuarina, n. any tree of the genus Casuarina, native to Australia and SE Asia, having tiny scale leaves on slender jointed branches, resembling gigantic horsetails.
Etymology
mod.L casuarius cassowary (from the resemblance between branches and feathers)
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