Casuarina equisetifolia and the Goat’s Foot - the former introduced, the latter native, and both possessing great beauty - are the two most ubiquitous and successful plant species - quite apart from the coconut palm of course - on the coastline of Andhra Pradesh.
Given the extraordinary ease with which Casuarina takes root on the Indian coastline, and flourishes, the fact that it is an introduced species surprises us. Clearly the species first arose in Australia - its native habitat - long after India had separated from Australia in its continental drift to the underbelly of Asia, the oceanic distance now simply too great for its seeds to make to India on their own via ocean currents or migratory bird droppings.
Sagar Nagar Beach, October 12, 2010, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh.
