Whistling Pine / Casuarina

Casuarina equisetifolia

A mid-sized slender evergreen tree with needle like leaves (which are actually twigs)

Leaf: The real leaves are inconspicuous, minute, encircling the joints of the twigs. For all practical purpose the thin green branchlets act as leaves.

Flower: Male and female flowers are usually in different trees. Male flowers are yellowish spikes at the end of branchlets. Female flowers in leaf axils and look cotton-like red threads

Fruit: Small(around 1’’), woody, globular cone. Only on female trees.

Season: Flowers in February-April. Fruits stay many months on the tree

Range/habitat: Malay peninsula, pacific islands and Australia. Commonly planted near sea shore which is its natural habitat in its native range.

Trivia and notes: Once upon a time during British era Casuarina avenue in Maidan area had many casuarina trees. It was found that the trees are not well suited for avenue plantation. Several serious accidents occurred as a result of their branches falling onto passing vehicles.

Where to Find: A few trees in the Dhakuria side of the Rabindra Sarobar lake near the lake border.