Download Australian Pine

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Casuarina equisetifolia
By: Aimee Childress
Background
 Introduced to Florida in
the late 1800's .
 Planted widely for the
purposes of ditch and
canal stabilization, shade
and lumber.
 Capable of flowering year- round and can
produce tremendous numbers of small,
winged seeds dispersed by wind.
Invasive Range
Native Range
 Hawaiian islands
 Malaysia
 Coastal Florida
 Southern Asia
 Bahamas
 Oceania
 Caribbean islands
 Australia
Characteristics
 Deciduous tree with a soft,
wispy, pine-like appearance
that can grow to 100 feet or
more in height.
 Fruit – The fruit is tiny, oneseeded and forms in woody
cone like clusters.
 Flowers- are unisexual and
inconspicuous. Females are in small
auxiliary clusters and males are in
small terminal spikes.
What Makes it Invasive?
Fast-growing (5-10 feet per year).
Produces dense shade and a thick blanket of
leaves.
Displace native dune and beach vegetation.
Causes poor soils because it produces nitrogen.
The ground becomes ecologically sterile and
lacking in food value for native wildlife.
Chemicals in the leaves may inhibit the growth of
other plants underneath it.
Control Plan
 New or Small Infestations-manual removal of
seedlings and saplings is recommended.
 Large infestations- application of a systemic type
herbicide to bark, cut stumps, or foliage.
 Prescribed fire has also been used for large
infestations in fire-tolerant communities.
Any Questions?