Casuarina species

Non-Native in Florida

Online image request form

Download a Recognition Card (PDF 931 KB)

Download a page (PDF 163 KB) from Identification and Biology of Nonnative Plants in Florida’s Natural Areas – Second Edition, by K.A. Langeland, H.M. Cherry, et al. University of Florida-IFAS Pub SP 257. 2008.

For control information, see Integrated Management of Nonnative Plants in Natural Areas of Florida (SP 242) by K. A. Langeland, J. A. Ferrell, B. Sellers, G. E. MacDonald, and R. K. Stocker

Casuarina equisetifolia and Casuarina glauca are listed on the FL DACS Florida Noxious Weed List – Rule 5B-57.007, making it “. . . unlawful to introduce, multiply, possess, move, or release . . . except under permit issued by the department . . . .” See 5B-57.004 for more information. Casuarina equisetifolia and Casuarina glauca are also on the FL DACS Prohibited Aquatic Plant List – 5B-64.011. According to Florida Statute 369.25, “No person shall import, transport, cultivate, collect, sell, or possess any noxious aquatic plant listed on the prohibited aquatic plant list established by the department without a permit issued by the department.” See 5B-64.011 for more information.

Date of introduction to Florida:
Casuarina equisetifolia 1887 (ornamental)
Casuarina glauca 1890 (ornamental, agriculture)
Casuarina cunninghamiana pre-1924 (ornamental, agriculture)

(from Strangers in Paradise, Impact and Management of Nonindigenous Species in Florida, Chapter 2: Florida’s Invasion by Nonindigenous Plants: History, Screening, and Regulation, by D.R. Gordon and K.P. Thomas, pp. 21-37. Island Press, Washington, DC, 1997.)

Casuarina equisetifolia

Appearance: Evergreen tree to 46 m (150 ft) tall, single-trunked; reddish brown to gray bark, rough, brittle, peeling.

Leaves: Tiny scales, whorled around long, grayish-green branchlets (resemble pine needles), scales 1-3 mm (0.11 in) long, 6-8 per whorl.

Flowers: Unisexual, inconspicuous, female contained in cylindrical to almost round cone-like clusters, to 2 cm (<1 in) long; male in small terminal spikes, 1.3 cm (0.5 in) wide.

Fruit: Tiny, 1-seeded, winged nutlet contained in the cone.

Ecological threat: Invasive exotics that are altering native plant communities by displacing native species, changing community structures or ecological functions, or hybridizing with natives. FLEPPC Category I


*Additional Casuarina species are listed on FLEPPC’s Category II list of invasive exotics: C. glauca and C. cunninghamiana.

Distribution: NW, NE, C, SW, SE

Text from Invasive and Non-Native Plants You Should Know, Recognition Cards, by A. Richard and V. Ramey, 2007. UF/IFAS Center for Aquatic and Invasive Plants, Publ. No. SP 431.

 

For general information about Casuarina, download this UF/IFAS-EDIS publication, Australian pine, Casuarina, by E.F. Gilman and D.G. Watson.

For more information and pictures about Casuarina equisetifolia, view the Langeland/Burks book, Identification & Biology of Non-Native Plants in Florida's Natural Areas.

For more information and pictures about Casuarina glauca, view the Langeland/Burks book, Identification & Biology of Non-Native Plants in Florida's Natural Areas.

The UF/IFAS Assessment lists plants according to their invasive status in Florida.

View the herbarium specimen images of the University of Florida Herbarium Digital Imaging Projects.