Junghuhn’s Casuarina
Scientific name: Casuarina junghuhniana
Overview
Junghuhn’s Casuarina is a medium to large hardwood native to Indonesia and several islands of Southeast Asia and the Pacific region. The species is widely planted in tropical regions for erosion control, windbreaks, fuelwood, and reforestation projects. Its wood is dense, strong, and durable, making it suitable for a variety of utility applications, though it is less commonly encountered in commercial lumber markets.
Quick Facts
- Common Name: Junghuhn’s Casuarina
- Scientific Name: Casuarina junghuhniana
- Region: Oceania & Pacific Hardwoods (Indonesia and Southeast Asia)
- Tree Size: 50–100 ft tall, 1–2 ft trunk diameter
- Average Dried Weight: 56 lbs/ft³ (900 kg/m³)
- Janka Hardness: Approximately 2,000 lbf
- Color: Reddish brown to dark brown
- Grain: Straight to slightly interlocked
- Texture: Fine and even
Identification Characteristics
Junghuhn’s Casuarina produces a reddish-brown to dark brown heartwood that often develops a deeper color with age. The wood has a fine texture and a subtle natural luster. Its density and hardness are characteristic of many sheoak species.
Key identification traits include:
- Reddish brown to dark brown coloration
- Fine and even texture
- Straight to slightly interlocked grain
- Dense and hard structure
- Occasional subtle figure and ribbon patterns
Working Properties
Junghuhn’s Casuarina can be moderately difficult to machine because of its density, but it finishes well and produces smooth surfaces.
- Moderately difficult to machine
- Turns and polishes exceptionally well
- Produces a smooth finished surface
- Excellent wear resistance
- Accepts oils and finishes readily
Safety Note
Wood dust may cause irritation in sensitive individuals. Appropriate dust collection and respiratory protection are recommended during machining.
Common Uses
Junghuhn’s Casuarina is commonly used in a variety of applications, including:
- Tool handles
- Woodturning
- Furniture components
- Flooring
- Posts and poles
- Decorative objects
- Specialty woodworking projects
- Firewood and charcoal
Sustainability & Notes
Junghuhn’s Casuarina is widely planted throughout tropical regions and is not considered threatened. The species is important in reforestation and land reclamation projects because of its adaptability to poor soils and its ability to improve soil fertility through nitrogen fixation.
Comparative Notes & Related Species
River Sheoak – A similarly dense Australian sheoak that is valued for decorative woodworking and turning.
Beefwood – A well-known member of the sheoak group with comparable density and attractive reddish coloration.
Forest Oak – Another dense sheoak prized for its fine texture and excellent finishing characteristics.
Related Guides
Casuarina Species Guide – Explores the characteristics, distribution, and uses of sheoak and beefwood species from around the world.
Best Woods for Outdoor Use – Examines wood species that perform well in demanding environments.
Building a Documented Wood Collection – Covers methods for cataloging and preserving wood samples.
Compare Wood Properties
See how this species ranks in density and hardness using our Wood Density & Janka Hardness Chart. You can also explore Hardest Woods, Softest Woods, and Most Dense Woods for quick comparisons.
Collector Notes
Junghuhn’s Casuarina is an interesting collector species because it represents one of the few sheoak species native to the Indonesian archipelago. Its dense, attractive wood and importance in reforestation projects make it a valuable addition to collections focused on tropical hardwoods, sheoak species, and lesser-known timbers of the Pacific region.
Share Your Photos of This Species
Do you have lumber, wood samples, tree photographs, woodworking projects, furniture, carvings, turnings, musical instruments, or other items made from this species?
Exotic Woods of the World welcomes photographs from woodworkers, collectors, sawyers, researchers, and wood enthusiasts around the world. Selected submissions may be featured on this page and throughout our website to help document and showcase real-world examples of this species.
When submitting photos, please include the common name, scientific name (if known), a brief description, and any information you would like us to share with the image.
Wood Sample Collection
This species is part of an ongoing effort to document and preserve wood samples from around the world.
Learn more about contributing to the collection:
Resources
Authoritative botanical and forestry references used in compiling information about this species include:
• USDA Forest Service – Wood Handbook: Wood as an Engineering Material
https://www.fpl.fs.usda.gov/products/publications/
• The Wood Database – Global reference for wood identification, physical properties, and woodworking characteristics
https://www.wood-database.com/
• Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew – Plants of the World Online – Botanical taxonomy and species distribution database
https://powo.science.kew.org/
• International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN Red List) – Global conservation status assessments
https://www.iucnredlist.org/
• Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) – International trade regulations for protected plant species
https://cites.org/
Additional forestry publications, academic research papers, and regional timber studies may also be referenced where available.
Love This Species?
Enjoy learning about this wood species?
Help support the continued growth of Exotic Woods of the World by participating in our Adopt a Species program. Your support helps fund species research, educational content, photography, videos, and future conservation awareness initiatives.
Support Forest Conservation
This species is part of the growing Exotic Woods of the World reference archive, dedicated to documenting and preserving knowledge of the world’s wood species.
Through the Adopt a Species program, visitors can help support ongoing species research, educational content, photography, video production, and future conservation awareness initiatives.
Contributions help fund the continued expansion of this archive while promoting sustainable forestry education and the long-term appreciation of the world’s forests.
Interested in supporting this species? Visit our Adopt a Species and Conservation Partners pages to learn more.
Availability & Where to Buy
Exotic hardwood availability can vary significantly depending on region, sustainability regulations, and supplier inventory.
As this archive grows, recommended suppliers and specialty wood retailers will be listed here to help woodworkers locate responsibly sourced material.
Lumber Suppliers:
Availability varies — see the Where to Buy Exotic Woods page for current sources.
Related Tools & Products:
Availability varies — see the Where to Buy Exotic Woods page for current sources.
Share This Wood Species
Stay Connected
Follow the latest species additions, educational resources, videos, conservation initiatives, and major project milestones through our Site Updates archive.
The Site Updates archive provides a permanent record of new content, library growth, and future developments across Exotic Woods of the World.