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| Casuarina equisetifolia |
Biggest Plant Dictionary | Casuarina equisetifolia | It is an evergreen tree growing to 6–35 m (20–115 ft) tall. The foliage consists of slender, much-branched green to grey-green twigs 0.5–1 mm (0.020–0.039 in) diameter, bearing minute scale-leaves in whorls of 6–8.
The flowers are produced in small catkin-like inflorescences; the male flowers in simple spikes 0.7–4 cm (0.28–1.6 in) long, the female flowers on short peduncles. Unlike most other species of Casuarina (which are dioecious) it is monoecious, with male and female flowers produced on the same tree. The fruit is an oval woody structure 10–24 mm (0.39–0.94 in) long and 9–13 mm (0.35–0.51 in) in diameter, superficially resembling a conifer cone made up of numerous carpels each containing a single seed with a small wing 6–8 mm (0.24–0.31 in) long.
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Species Name:
Casuarina equisetifolia L.
Casuarina equisetifolia L.
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| Casuarina equisetifolia |
Common Name(s):
Australian Pine, Beach Sheoak, Australian Beefwood, Ironwood
Australian Pine, Beach Sheoak, Australian Beefwood, Ironwood
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| Casuarina equisetifolia |
Synonymy:
Melaleuca leucadendron (L.), misapplied
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| Casuarina equisetifolia |
Potentially Misidentified Species:
Two congeners, also exotics, occur in Florida. Casuarina glauca typically grows to 10-15 m with a 0.5 m trunk dbh (diameter at breast height) and with 10-17 leaf scales per whorl. C. cunninghamiana typically grows to 25 m with a 0.66 m dbh and 8-10 leaf scales per whorl. Expert examination of the flowers also reveals that these two species are dioecious (male and female flowers occur on separate individual organisms). In conrast, C. equisetifolia is monoecious (male and female flowers on a single individual) and typically grows to 15-30 m (but can grow taller), with a 0.3-0.5 m dbh and 6-8 leaf scales per whorl (Snyder 1992, Langeland and Burks 1998). The congeners are capable of hybridizing, and the presence of hybrids may confound positive identification.
Two congeners, also exotics, occur in Florida. Casuarina glauca typically grows to 10-15 m with a 0.5 m trunk dbh (diameter at breast height) and with 10-17 leaf scales per whorl. C. cunninghamiana typically grows to 25 m with a 0.66 m dbh and 8-10 leaf scales per whorl. Expert examination of the flowers also reveals that these two species are dioecious (male and female flowers occur on separate individual organisms). In conrast, C. equisetifolia is monoecious (male and female flowers on a single individual) and typically grows to 15-30 m (but can grow taller), with a 0.3-0.5 m dbh and 6-8 leaf scales per whorl (Snyder 1992, Langeland and Burks 1998). The congeners are capable of hybridizing, and the presence of hybrids may confound positive identification.
Possible Economic Consequences of Invasion:
Potential positive economic uses for Casuarina equisetifolia include use as windbreaks, landscape trees, lumber, fuel wood, and several other minor uses. None of these uses are currently pursued in Florida, where a negative economic impact of the species exists.
Potential positive economic uses for Casuarina equisetifolia include use as windbreaks, landscape trees, lumber, fuel wood, and several other minor uses. None of these uses are currently pursued in Florida, where a negative economic impact of the species exists.
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| Casuarina equisetifolia |
Casuarina is widely used as a bonsai subject, particularly in Southeast Asia and parts of the Caribbean. Indonesian specimens and those cultivated in Taiwan are regarded among the best in the bonsai world. Among the islands of Hawaii, Casuarina are also grown for erosion prevention, and in general as windbreaking elements.
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