Descriptive Information
- Field marks: deciduous tree, pine like appearance, leaves needle like groups of 6-8 whorled growth per branchlet have a hairy texture, cone-like fruiting structures both male and female, the female occuring on the bottom part of the tree and are 10-20mm in diameter and 12-24mm long and elliptical in shape, the male on the top terminal branches, small brown flowers.
- Size: deciduous tree typically 30m (95 feet)
- General habitat: can tolerate a wide variety of conditions including nutrient poor soil (due to the roots ability to produce nitrogen), salinity, sand, water-logged soil
- Geographic range: found naturally in northern Australia, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia, introduced to southern Florida, now the most abundant tree on frost-free beaches in the world
- Other information: The Australian Pine is a very fast growing tree. When it is established it has the capability to alter temperature, light and soil chemistry which drastically effects the native flora and fauna around it. Dense thickets of Australian Pine displace native plants which in turn effects native wildlife. The Australian Pine also effects the water tables, it uses much more water than its neighboring species and can dry out an area much quicker.
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