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At first glance, an Ironwood Tree (Casuarina equisetifolia) with its needle-like foliage and woody fruit looks much like a Pine tree (Pinus sp.). However, the deciduous tufts of jointed and grooved “needles” are not true leaves: they are actually small jointed branches or twigs that perform the same functions as leaves. Minute tooth-shaped structures protruding from around the tops of each needle’s “joints” are the true leaves. Ho'okipa Beach, north Maui.
Maturing cone-like fruits of an Ironwood Tree (Casuarina equisetifolia) at Ho'okipa Beach, north Maui.
A close-up shot of the maturing cone-like fruits of an Ironwood Tree (Casuarina equisetifolia) at Ho'okipa Beach, north Maui.
Maturing cone-like fruits of an Ironwood Tree (Casuarina equisetifolia) at the Spouting Horn beach, Poipu, south Kaua'i.
Maturing cone-like fruits and foliage of an Ironwood Tree (Casuarina equisetifolia), Poipu Road, Lawai, south Kaua'i.
An elderly Ironwood Tree (Casuarina equisetifolia) leaning into the strong prevailing winds of Kahului Bay, north Maui. This species is well suited to withstand the strong prevailing Trade Winds of the leeward side of the island. However, it is vulnerable to the gusting hurricane-force winds common in the Islands during the summer months and is liable to be uprooted easily. Casuarina equisetifolia, variously known as Ironwood (Hawaiian: Pa'ina), Coast She-Oak, Whistling Pine, Australian Pine, Horsetail Beefwood, Australian Oak, and Swamp Oak. Despite it's appearance, it is not related to pine trees. Has two flowers: a male flower at the tip of the "needle" and a female flower that appears to be a smaller "needle" growing at the base of the longer needle. Considered a pest species, as it forms dense stands of trees under which little else can grow.
Ironwood saplings (Casuarina equisetifolia) colonize the stabilized sand of the beach berm, Kanaha Beach, north Maui.
Kanaha Beach, north Maui. This photograph shows several of the species of trees, sprawling bushes, vines, and grass that help stabilize so many of Maui's sandy beaches: the tallest trees are Iron Wood (Casuarina equisetifolia), Kiawe or Mesquite (Prosopis pallida), and Candlenut or Kukui (Aleurites mollucana). The light-green bushes near the center of the photograph are Tree Heliotrope (Tournefortia argentea).
Ironwood saplings (Casuarina equisetifolia) colonize the stabilized sand of the beach berm, Kanaha Beach, north Maui.
At first glance, an Ironwood Tree (Casuarina equisetifolia) with its needle-like foliage and woody fruit looks much like a Pine tree (Pinus sp.). However, the deciduous tufts of jointed and grooved “needles” are not true leaves: they are actually small jointed branches or twigs that perform the same functions as leaves. Minute tooth-shaped structures protruding from around the tops of each needle’s “joints” are the true leaves.

Ho'okipa Beach, north Maui.
At first glance, an Ironwood Tree (Casuarina equisetifolia) with its needle-like foliage and woody fruit looks much like a Pine tree (Pinus sp.). However, the deciduous tufts of jointed and grooved “needles” are not true leaves: they are actually small jointed branches or twigs that perform the same functions as leaves. Minute tooth-shaped structures protruding from around the tops of each needle’s “joints” are the true leaves. Ho'okipa Beach, north Maui.
At first glance, an Ironwood Tree (Casuarina equisetifolia) with its needle-like foliage and woody fruit looks much like a Pine tree (Pinus sp.). However, the deciduous tufts of jointed and grooved “needles” are not true leaves: they are actually small jointed branches or twigs that perform the same functions as leaves. Minute tooth-shaped structures protruding from around the tops of each needle’s “joints” are the true leaves.

Ho'okipa Beach, north Maui.
See photo in original gallery.
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