Casuarina equisetifolia

English name: Australian pine

Latin name: Casuarina equisetifolia

Family: She-oak/Ironwood – Casuarinaceae

Origin: Southeast Asia, Australia

The Australian pine is an evergreen which grows to a height of 6 to 35 m. The foliage is a thin, strongly branching green-grey stem, 0.5 mm. to 1 mm. in diameter. Its leaves are small and scaly, arranged in whorls of six to eight. This is a monoecious plant, producing both female and male parts. The fruits are woody, between 10 and 24 mm. in length and 9 - 13 mm. in diameter, resembling the cones of coniferous trees.

In tropical countries, this tree is generally used in bonsai arts. Its wood is used to produce shingles and fencing, and is an excellent raw material fuel. In Hawaii this tree is used to protect soil from erosion.