Hillsborough County ISTF - Manatee County Extension Office ...

Australian-pineSuckering Australian-pineCasuarina spp.C. equisetifoliaC. glaucaIdentifying CharacteristicsThere are two common species of Australian-pine and oneless frequently found in Florida. Australian-pine (C.equisetifolia) is an evergreen tree to 150 feet. Usually hasa single trunk with reddish-brown to gray bark. Althoughthe tree resembles a pine, close inspection of the plantreveals branchlets (not needles) that are jointed, thin,grayish-green, needle-like and 4 to 8 inches long. Seedsform in woody, cone-like clusters about 3 /4 inch long and1 /2 inch wide; produced year-round.Suckering Australian-pine (C. glauca) grows to 70 feet tallwith a pyramidal shape. Bark is dark gray-brown andscaly. Needle-like branchlets are 8 to 10 inches long andjointed, thin and sometimes waxy. Differs from C.equisetifolia in having separate male and female plantsand 10 to 17 leaf scales per branchlet and smaller seeds.There is a less common third species, C. cunninghamiana,the most cold hardy of the three species.HabitatIntroduced to Florida in early 1900s and planted aswindbreaks and shade trees. Found in abundance fromOrlando throughout south Florida on sandy shores,pineland and sawgrass marshes. Colonizes in disturbedsites such as road shoulders and undeveloped lots.Growth HabitsGrows extremely fast—5 to 10 feet per year. Creates densestands that displace native plants and wildlife. Trees blowover easily in storms because of shallow root systems.Seeds are dispersed by birds, water and wind. SuckeringAustralian-pine (C. glauca) reproduces aggressively fromwidely spreading roots, especially when pruned.Control Methods:Cut-Stump or Basal BarkLarge trees should be cutand treated immediatelywith triclopyr ester. Basalbark applications are alsoeffective.ReplacementsLongleaf pine (Pinuspalustris)Slash pine (Pinus elliottii)Red cedar (Juniperusvirginiana)13