Casuarina

plant genus

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July 23, 2026

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The genus Casuarina comprises about 30 species of trees and shrubs belonging to the family Casuarinaceae. These plants, often found in tropical eastern Africa, Southeast Asia, Malaysia, Australia, and Polynesia, are characterized by slender, green, and grooved branches that resemble pine needles. Their tiny, scalelike leaves are arranged in whorls along these branches.12

Casuarina species are well-adapted to dry conditions and poor soils, often growing in coastal areas. Some species, like C. equisetifolia (also known as beefwood or Australian pine), are valued for their hard, dense wood, which is resistant to termites. These plants are wind-pollinated.12

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Casuarinaceae
…plants, with two genera (Casuarina, 30 species; Gymnostoma, 20 species) of trees and shrubs, many of which have a distinctly pinelike aspect when seen from afar. They are naturally distributed in tropical eastern Africa, the Mascarene Islands, Southeast Asia, Malaysia, Australia, and Polynesia. Some, especially the beefwood (C. equisetifolia,…
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…plants, with two genera (Casuarina, 30 species; Gymnostoma, 20 species) of trees and shrubs, many of which have a distinctly pinelike aspect when seen from afar. They are naturally distributed in tropical eastern Africa, the Mascarene Islands, Southeast Asia, Malaysia, Australia, and Polynesia. Some, especially the beefwood (C. equisetifolia,…
Read More