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Casuarinaceae

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Casuarina

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equisetifolia

Taxon

Casuarina equisetifolia L.

Protologue Amoen. Acad., Linnaeus ed. 4: 143. 1759 [Nov 1759]IPNI
AcceptedGBIF
Least Concern
Tree leaning over a sandy beach

Tree leaning over a sandy beach

By Christopher Davidson

CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0

Drooping branchlets on a tree beside rocky ground

Drooping branchlets on a tree beside rocky ground

By Christopher Davidson

CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0

Slender tree with wispy foliage in low scrub

Slender tree with wispy foliage in low scrub

By Christopher Davidson

CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0

Tree with wispy green branchlets in an open field

Tree with wispy green branchlets in an open field

By Christopher Davidson

CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0

Wind-swept damaged tree in an open grassy landscape

Wind-swept damaged tree in an open grassy landscape

By Christopher Davidson

CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0

Drooping branchlets with male inflorescences above a sandy beach

Drooping branchlets with male inflorescences above a sandy beach

By Christopher Davidson

CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0

Immature infructescence and female flower among needle-like branchlets

Immature infructescence and female flower among needle-like branchlets

By Christopher Davidson

CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0

Slender drooping branchlets bearing male flower spikes above a sandy beach

Slender drooping branchlets bearing male flower spikes above a sandy beach

By Christopher Davidson

CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0

Female inflorescence on green needle-like branchlets

Female inflorescence on green needle-like branchlets

By Christopher Davidson

CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0

Male flower spikes terminating slender jointed branchlets near a beach

Male flower spikes terminating slender jointed branchlets near a beach

By Christopher Davidson

CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0

Needle-like branchlets and tiny flowers held by hand above a rocky shore

Needle-like branchlets and tiny flowers held by hand above a rocky shore

By Christopher Davidson

CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0

Infructescence, female flower head, and needle-like branchlets

Infructescence, female flower head, and needle-like branchlets

By Christopher Davidson

CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0

Developing infructescence and female flower cluster on branchlet

Developing infructescence and female flower cluster on branchlet

By Christopher Davidson

CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0

Slender drooping branchlets with small reddish female flower heads

Slender drooping branchlets with small reddish female flower heads

By Christopher Davidson

CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0

Female inflorescences and needle-like branchlets held in hand

Female inflorescences and needle-like branchlets held in hand

By Christopher Davidson

CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0

Female inflorescence on slender branchlets against a coastal background

Female inflorescence on slender branchlets against a coastal background

By Christopher Davidson

CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0

Slender jointed branchlets with a tiny reddish female flower head

Slender jointed branchlets with a tiny reddish female flower head

By Christopher Davidson

CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0

Developing infructescence and female flower cluster among needle-like branchlets

Developing infructescence and female flower cluster among needle-like branchlets

By Christopher Davidson

CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0

Drooping branchlet with tiny female flowers above a rocky shore

Drooping branchlet with tiny female flowers above a rocky shore

By Christopher Davidson

CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0

Slender branchlet with tiny flowers above a rocky coast

Slender branchlet with tiny flowers above a rocky coast

By Christopher Davidson

CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0

Immature woody infructescence on a branch

Immature woody infructescence on a branch

By Christopher Davidson

CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0

Developing cone-like infructescence and slender branchlets

Developing cone-like infructescence and slender branchlets

By Christopher Davidson

CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0

Male flower spikes hanging on slender jointed branchlets

Male flower spikes hanging on slender jointed branchlets

By Christopher Davidson

CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0

Male flower spikes at the tips of slender green branchlets

Male flower spikes at the tips of slender green branchlets

By Christopher Davidson

CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0

Close-up of a flowering male spike

Close-up of a flowering male spike

By Christopher Davidson

CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0

Slender male flower spike held against a finger

Slender male flower spike held against a finger

By Christopher Davidson

CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0

Slender drooping branchlets with immature infructescences and male spikes

Slender drooping branchlets with immature infructescences and male spikes

By Christopher Davidson

CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0

Male flower spikes at the tips of slender branchlets

Male flower spikes at the tips of slender branchlets

By Christopher Davidson

CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0

Immature woody infructescences hanging from slender branchlets

Immature woody infructescences hanging from slender branchlets

By Christopher Davidson

CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0

Fruiting branchlet with slender, jointed photosynthetic branchlets

Fruiting branchlet with slender, jointed photosynthetic branchlets

By Christopher Davidson

CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0

Slender drooping branchlets with developing infructescences and male spikes

Slender drooping branchlets with developing infructescences and male spikes

By Christopher Davidson

CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0

Fruiting branchlet with needle-like photosynthetic branchlets and young infructescences held in hand

Fruiting branchlet with needle-like photosynthetic branchlets and young infructescences held in hand

By Christopher Davidson

CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0

Slender drooping branchlets bearing woody fruit in coastal scrub

Slender drooping branchlets bearing woody fruit in coastal scrub

By Christopher Davidson

CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0

Close-up of a flowering male spike

Close-up of a flowering male spike

By Christopher Davidson

CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0

Slender drooping branchlets with male flower spikes

Slender drooping branchlets with male flower spikes

By Christopher Davidson

CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0

Slender drooping branchlets bearing male inflorescence spikes

Slender drooping branchlets bearing male inflorescence spikes

By Christopher Davidson

CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0

Young woody infructescences clustered on a leafy branchlet

Young woody infructescences clustered on a leafy branchlet

By Christopher Davidson

CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0

Cone-like woody infructescences clustered on branchlet beside jointed needle-like twigs

Cone-like woody infructescences clustered on branchlet beside jointed needle-like twigs

By Christopher Davidson

CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0

Needle-like branchlets and cone-like infructescences on a branch

Needle-like branchlets and cone-like infructescences on a branch

By Christopher Davidson

CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0

Developing cone-like infructescence hanging from a twig

Developing cone-like infructescence hanging from a twig

By Christopher Davidson

CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0

Immature cones and slender branchlets along a twig

Immature cones and slender branchlets along a twig

By Christopher Davidson

CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0

Cluster of cone-like infructescences among needle-like green branchlets

Cluster of cone-like infructescences among needle-like green branchlets

By Christopher Davidson

CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0

Cone-like woody infructescences clustered on branchlet beside needle-like foliage

Cone-like woody infructescences clustered on branchlet beside needle-like foliage

By Christopher Davidson

CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0

Cone-like woody infructescences on a jointed branchlet

Cone-like woody infructescences on a jointed branchlet

By Christopher Davidson

CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0

Branch with infructescences and needle-like branchlets

Branch with infructescences and needle-like branchlets

By Christopher Davidson

CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0

Cluster of mature woody infructescences and slender branchlets

Cluster of mature woody infructescences and slender branchlets

By Christopher Davidson

CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0

Cone-like woody infructescences on a leafy branch

Cone-like woody infructescences on a leafy branch

By Christopher Davidson

CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0

Cluster of cone-like woody infructescences on a branch

Cluster of cone-like woody infructescences on a branch

By Christopher Davidson

CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0

Jointed branchlets with reduced scale leaves and immature infructescences

Jointed branchlets with reduced scale leaves and immature infructescences

By Christopher Davidson

CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0

Infructescences along a woody branch with slender needle-like branchlets

Infructescences along a woody branch with slender needle-like branchlets

By Christopher Davidson

CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0

Native to Assam, Bangladesh, Borneo, Cambodia, Caroline Is., Fiji, India, Jawa, Lesser Sunda Is., Malaya, Marianas, Marshall Is., Myanmar, New Caledonia, New Guinea, New South Wales, Northern Territory, Philippines, Queensland, Samoa, Solomon Is., South China Sea, Sulawesi, Sumatera, Thailand, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Vietnam; introduced into 65 botanical countries across Europe, Africa, Temperate Asia, Tropical Asia, Pacific, Northern America, and Southern America (source: POWO). Flora of the World documents 5 occurrences across 4 countries.

Description

As seen in 4 occurrences, in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa; Analamanga and Diana, Madagascar; and Hawaii, United States (plus 1 in botanic gardens): Trees were observed in low scrub, open fields, and open grassy landscapes in Analamanga, and leaning over sandy beaches or beside rocky ground in Hawaii. Foliage consists of slender, needle-like green jointed branchlets with leaves reduced to whorled scales or teeth at the nodes. Terminal cylindrical male spikes were recorded in KwaZulu-Natal, Diana, and Hawaii, while dense rounded female inflorescences bearing protruding thread-like styles were documented in Hawaii. Woody, cone-like infructescences composed of packed bracteoles were observed in Analamanga, Diana, and Hawaii, varying from green when immature to dry brown with open valves. Twigs and branches have rough, fibrous grey-brown bark in Analamanga and Hawaii.

AI-written from 49 photos4 occurrences, plus 1 in botanic gardensPhotographed 1 Oct – 26 Mar
Look closer
AI-tagged
Flowers

Male inflorescences terminal, elongate, cylindrical brownish spikes densely covered in whorls of flowers.

Distribution

Distribution from Plants of the World Online (POWO). View the accepted name on POWO

Occurrences

No collection number

January 16, 2006

Location

Madagascar, Analamanga (Anjozorobe)

-18.398889, 47.937222

Location Remarks

East of Anjozorobe. Near village of Antsahabe. Humid forest. Specimens preserved in alcohol.

Collectors

No collectors specified

No collection number

September 28, 2003

Location

Bolivia, La Paz, Franz Tamayo (Durban Botanic Gardens)

36.728611, 2.194444

Location Remarks

70 St. Thomas Road, Durban

Collectors

No collectors specified

No collection number

October 1, 2003

Location

South Africa, KwaZulu-Natal (Hibiscus Coast NU)

-31.006667, 30.177222

Location Remarks

Umtamvuna Nature Reserve, west of Port Edward. Rock outcrop in grassland along the south rim of the gorge.

Collectors

No collectors specified

No collection number

March 26, 2008

Location

United States, Hawaii

Location Remarks

W Maui DT Fleming St Beach Park

Collectors

No collectors specified

Ranaivojaona, R 1559

November 9, 2006

Location

Madagascar, Diana, Antsiranana (Ambatozavavy)

-13.413056, 48.335556

Location Remarks

Nosy Be, SE corner of island in Lokobe Forest. Along sandy beach. Specimens preserved in alcohol.

Collectors

Rolland Ranaivojaona

Classification

Kingdom

Plantae

Phylum

Tracheophyta

Class

Magnoliopsida

Order

Fagales

Family

Casuarinaceae

Genus

Casuarina

Specific Epithet

equisetifolia

Authorship

L.

Taxonomic Opinions

GBIFWFOPOWO

Conservation (EDGE)

What is EDGE?

Evolutionary distinctiveness

Lower

ED 3.1

Part of a well-represented branch of the plant tree of life, with many close relatives.

Threat status

Least Concern

IUCN Red List

EDGE score

0.2

Global rank

#221,724 of 335,497

Top 67%

Extinction probability

6%

Source: Flowering plants EDGE assessment →