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beach sheoak
Scientific Name: Casuarina equisetifolia
Family: Casuarinaceae
Category: Dicot
Growth: Tree
Duration: Perennial
Other Names:
Casuarina equisetifolia: The Australian Pine
Casuarina equisetifolia, commonly known as the Australian pine, is a distinctive tree often found near coastal areas. It's important to note that despite its pine-like appearance, it is not related to pine trees at all.
Considerations for Pets
- The dead, brown, fallen leaf twigs litter the ground under the trees like pine needles, which pets might be inclined to ingest.
Nomenclature and Taxonomy
- Scientific Name: Casuarina equisetifolia L.
- Family: Casuarinaceae (Sheoak Family)
- Synonyms: Casuarina litorea
- Common Names: Australian pine, beach sheoak, beach casuarina, coast sheoak, horsetail sheoak, Australian beefwood, common ironwood, whistling tree, horsetail she oak, River Sheoak, Shingle Oak, South Sea ironweed, mile tree.
Distribution and Habitat
- Native to the coastal sands of north and east Australia, from Northern Territory to New South Wales, extending eastward into Melanesia and westward to coastal Southeast Asia.
- Also found in Hawaii, where it is considered the most common and widespread Casuarina species.
Ecological Role
- In some regions, such as Florida, Casuarina species are considered invasive and threaten biological diversity and beach integrity.
- The trees provide shelter and are very hardy plants that grow on the fore dunes.
Morphological Characteristics
- An evergreen tree growing to 6-35 meters tall.
- The fallen leaf twigs resemble pine needles.