Galapagos Species Database
The Galapagos Species Database shares the information about the species from our Natural History Collections.
Casuarina equisetifolia
arbol de hierro, casuarina, pino australiano, Australian pine, beach sheoak, common ironwood, whistling pine, horsetail tree
The Australian pine is an evergreen tree that grows to 10-12 m in height and has long, slender, drooping branches. The leaves are superficially similar in appearance to the leaves of pine trees.
C. equisitifolia is a tree that is pine-like in appearance which drops its leaves and which can reach a height of over 30 m. From 4 years old, it can produce a large amount of seeds that are dispersed by wind and water. The seed bank is transient (less than 1 year). The tree usually grows in tropic or sub-tropical coastal areas.
Domain
Eukaryota
Kingdom
Plantae
Phylum
Magnoliophyta
Class
Magnoliopsida (= Dicotyledoneae)
Order
Fagales
Family
Casuarinaceae
Genus
Casuarina
Species
equisetifolia
Taxon category: Accepted
Syn.: Casuarina litorea L. ex Fosberg & Sachet
Origin: Introduced - established
Year of first record: 1985
Mode of introduction: Intentional
Introduction Pathway: Intentional
Subpathway: Agriculture/Horticulture
Introduced status: Human dependent
Invasive status: No data
Impact in Galapagos: Currently not known to be a problem in Galápagos.
Impact elsewhere: Once established, the tree radically alters light, temperature, and soil chemistry of coastal habitat, displacing and inhibiting other plant species and destroying habitat for insects and other animals. It also leaves the soil very susceptible to erosion.
Control History in Galapagos: Although eradication in Santa Cruz is possible, the owners have refused to give permission to allow control efforts to remove the plants.
Control methods elsewhere: Seedlings and small plants can be pulled manually, and controlled burning has been used for dense infestations. The application of herbicide to the trunk kills adult plants.
Known Pest elsewhere: Widespread
Habitat preferences: The Australian pine usually grows in tropic or sub-tropical coastal areas.
Trophic role: Primary producer
Reproductive biology: At 4 years old, trees can produce large quantities of seeds that are dispersed by wind and water. The seed bank is transient (less than 1 year).
Growth form: Trees
Distribution origin: Australia
Distribution classification: Paleo-tropical
Map of specimen collection localities or observation records for this species in our collections database.
Distribution: Present in urban and agricultural areas on Santa Cruz, originally from Australia.
- Flores, E. (1985) Censo de Plantas Introducidas desde el Canal de Itabaca hasta Puerto Ayora. Tesis de Ingeniero Forestal, Univ. Técnica Luis Vargas Torres, Esmeraldas: 1-132.
- Chavez, J. (1993) Diagnostico de la Agricultura y la Ganader¡a en la Provincia de Galapagos. Tesis.
- Clavijo, P. Valdebenito, H. & Hurtado, F. (1991) Plantas introducidas en las areas urbanas de las islas Galapagos. Typescript reports in files of Botany Dept.
- Prado Erazo, G.E. (1986) Informe preliminar, Censo de especies arboreas introducidas en la zona agricola de la isla Santa Cruz. Charles Darwin Research Station, unpublished, typescript CDF library
- Guézou, A. Trueman, M., Buddenhagen, E., Chamorro, S., Guerrero, A.M., Pozo, P., Atkinson, R. (2010) An extensive Alien Plan Inventory from the Inhabited Areas of Galapagos Plos One/ www.plosone.org. Volume 5/ Issue 4/e10276
- Lawesson, J.E. (1987) Plantas exóticas en las Islas Galápagos, un resumen. Memorias. Taller sobre investigación Botánica y manejo en Galápagos. Pg. 17-23.
- Motooka, P. (1987) El Papel de los herbicidas en el manejo de tierras para conservación Investigación Botánica y Manejo en Galápagos. Memorias.
- Lawesson, J.E. Ortiz, L. (1987) Plantas Introducidas en las Islas Galápagos Memorias. Investigación Botánica y Manejo en Galápagos. Pg.224-235
You are welcome to download and use the information found in this page, acknowledging its source.
This page should be cited as follows:
"Galapagos Species Database, Casuarina equisetifolia", dataZone. Charles Darwin Foundation, https://datazone.darwinfoundation.org/en/checklist/?species=266. Accessed 2 December 2024.
Dispersal propagule: Seed
Seeds are dispersed by wind and water.