Australian-pine: Casuarina equisetifolia (Casuarinales: Casuarinaceae): Invasive Plant Atlas of the United States

Australian-pine	USDA PLANTS Symbol: CAEQ U.S. Nativity: Exotic Habit: Hardwood Trees
Casuarina equisetifolia L.

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Taxonomic Rank: Magnoliopsida: Casuarinales: Casuarinaceae
Synonym(s): Australian pine, beach sheoak, common ironwood
Native Range: northeastern Australia, Pacific Islands, Southeast Asia (BAIL);
Appearance Casuarina equisetifolia is a deciduous tree that occurs in open, coastal habitats including sand beaches, rocky coasts and sand dunes. Trees can grow to over 100 ft. (30.5 m) in height. Foliage The reddish-brown to gray bark is brittle and peels. Branchlets resemble pine needles and are very thin, 4-8 in. (10-20 cm) long and gray-green. Flowers Male and female flowers are present on the same plant and are inconspicuous. Male flowers occur in terminal spikes, while the female flowers are in small, axillary clusters. Fruit Fruit are tiny, winged nutlets that each contain one seed. The fruits are contained in woody, cone-like structures that are 0.75 in. (2 cm) long. Ecological Threat Casuarina equisetifolia is native to Australia and southeast Asia and was introduced into Florida in the late 1800’s.

Identification, Biology, Control and Management Resources

Weeds Gone Wild: Alien Plant Invaders of Natural Areas - Plant Conservation Alliance
Element Stewardship Abstract - The Nature Conservancy

Selected Images from Invasive.org

View All Images at Invasive.org

Foliage; Amy Ferriter, State of Idaho, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Foliage; Dan Clark, USDI National Park Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Flower(s); A close-up of a male catkin John M. Randall, The Nature Conservancy, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Flower(s); Amy Ferriter, State of Idaho, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Cones; voucher 060422 16 Forest and Kim Starr, Starr Environmental, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Fruit(s); Tony Pernas, USDI National Park Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Seed(s); seed capsule Dan Clark, USDI National Park Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Seed(s); seed capsules Dan Clark, USDI National Park Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Seed(s); Steve Hurst, USDA NRCS PLANTS Database, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Tree(s); Forest and Kim Starr, Starr Environmental, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Seedling(s); Forest and Kim Starr, Starr Environmental, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Plant(s); habit Forest and Kim Starr, Starr Environmental, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Plant(s); habit Forest and Kim Starr, Starr Environmental, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Plant(s); habit Forest and Kim Starr, Starr Environmental, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Tree(s); Forest Forest and Kim Starr, Starr Environmental, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Tree(s); coastal trail Forest and Kim Starr, Starr Environmental, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage
Infestation; Tony Pernas, USDI National Park Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Infestation; Tony Pernas, USDI National Park Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Tree(s); Tony Pernas, USDI National Park Service, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage	Infestation; Amy Ferriter, State of Idaho, Bugwood.org Additional Resolutions & Image Usage

EDDMapS Distribution:
This map is incomplete and is based only on current site and county level reports made by experts and records obtained from USDA Plants Database. For more information, visit www.eddmaps.org

State List
This map identifies those states that list this species on their invasive species list or law.

U.S. National Parks where reported invasive:

Big Cypress National Preserve (Florida)
Dry Tortugas
Everglades National Park (Florida)
Haleakala National Park (Hawaii)

Invasive Listing Sources:

Alabama Invasive Plant Council

California Invasive Plant Council

Florida Invasive Plant Council - Plant List

Jil M. Swearingen, Survey of invasive plants occurring on National Park Service lands, 2000-2007

John Randall, The Nature Conservancy, Survey of TNC Preserves, 1995.

Reichard, Sarah. 1994. Assessing the potential of invasiveness in woody plants introduced in North America. University of Washington Ph.D. dissertation.

WeedUS - Database of Plants Invading Natural Areas in the United States