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what "australian pine" is and sometimes ain't...

Message from George in Bandon Oregon

the "Australian pine" that is a pest in florida is a casuarina species (also known as "beefwood" or "sheoak")---it's from Australia but it's NOT a pine and in fact not even a conifer being a true flowering plant that kind of resembles a conifer. casuarinas are cultivated in California but they are not considered much of a weed species there.

OTOH, the "Australian pine" in these pictures is araucaria heterophylla/"Norfolk island pine" (or just maybe a. columnaris as the species are similar looking as young plants and they are terribly confused in the nursery trade)---a true conifer though not closely related to pines--also planted in parts of florida but don't think it's a weed there.


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