The horsetail tree prefers a climate with a wide range of rainfall, from 175 to 1500 mm. It is adaptable to both drought and frost conditions. It thrives in areas with varying altitudes and is commonly found in coastal regions. The tree is well-suited for sand dunes and is salt tolerant. Its ability to withstand heavy winds makes it an excellent windbreak species. It is often used for erosion control along estuaries, river banks, waterways, and coastal areas.
Horsetail tree
The auarina euieioia, also known as the horsetail tree, Australian pine, or coast sheoak, is a small tree that thrives in sand dunes and coastal areas. It is highly adaptable to different climates, tolerating drought and frost but not fire. With its strong and durable wood, it serves as a valuable windbreak and erosion control species, while its bark is used for tanning and the tree's presence benefits vanilla crops in Brazil.
Auarina euieioia
Australia
Other Relevant Information: - The horsetail tree is native to Australia and is also known as the Australian pine or coast sheoak. - It is a pioneer species, meaning it is one of the first plants to colonize and establish in an area. - The tree typically has a bent stem and can grow as wide as it is tall, reaching heights of 8-16 meters. - It is well-adapted to sandy environments, particularly sand dunes, and can tolerate a wide range of rainfall from 175 to 1500 mm. - The horsetail tree is hardy to drought and frost but cannot survive fire. It is not capable of coppicing. - It is valued for its ability to act as a windbreak, with belts of trees two or three deep effectively absorbing heavy winds. - The tree is also important in erosion control along estuaries, river banks, waterways, and coastal areas. It is salt tolerant. - The heartwood of the horsetail tree is dark brown, very hard, and very heavy. It is highly durable when in contact with the ground or submerged in saltwater. - The wood has various uses, including house posts, rafters, electric poles, mine timbers, roofing shingles, tool handles, wagon wheels, and oars. - It is considered one of the best firewoods, burning even when green, and the ashes retain heat for a long time. It also produces excellent charcoal. - The bark of the horsetail tree contains tannin and is used for tanning leather in Madagascar. - Vanilla growers in Brazil often plant horsetail trees as companions to their crops due to the moist soil beneath the tree, which is believed to result from air moisture condensed on its needles and twigs.
Sand dunes.
A small tree, (8-16 m), usually with a bent stem and often growing as wide as it is tall. It is usually long lived and is at home in sand dunes. Rainfall ranges from 175 - 1500 mm.
It is hardy to drought and frost but will not survive fire. It will not tolerate coppicing.
It is valuable as a windbreak species capable of absorbing heavy winds with belts of trees two or three deep. It is also valuable in erosion control along estuaries, river banks, waterways and coastal areas and is salt tolerant.
The heartwood is dark brown, very hard, very heavy (density of 1000 kg/cu m), strong and durable in the ground or submerged in saltwater. It can be used for house posts, rafters, electric poles, mine timbers, roofing shingles, tool handles, wagon wheels and for oars. It is considered one of the best firewoods (calorific value of about 4950 kcal/kg), will burn even when green and the ashes retain heat for a long period of time. It makes an exceptionally fine charcoal.
The bark, which contains 6 - 18% tannin is used extensively in Madagascar for tanning. It penetrates the hide quickly and furnishes a fairly plump, pliant and soft leather, pale reddish -brown in colour. The wood has been found to make a useful pulp.
Vanilla growers in Brazil use this tree as a companion to their crops because the soil below it seems to be always moist, supposedly from air moisture condensed on its needles and twigs.