I used to like the look of Casuarina that laid the entire stretch of path. And used to curse the casuarina pine fruits as i skated down the uneven path. Now i see it almost everyday. It's like any other trees to me:)

Cauarina Equisetifolia is commonly known as just Casuarina, Ru, or Australian Pine. I still rem being amazed to find pine trees at Northern thailand up in the mountains when i only associate Pine trees to temperate countries with winters.

These are hardy, large tree growing to about 25m tall, wiht a conical crown, capable of growing under almost any conditions. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria in its roots mean there is no need to use nitrogen-containing fertilisers on this tree.

Incredibly this tree produces its own fertiliser, provides the best firewood, an excellent wind-break, can be grown into a hedge or used for ornamental topiary work, produces very heavy, hard, durable timber which is termite-resistent, has bark which provides chemicals for tanning & dyeing, & also grown as an ornamental for roadsides & parks.

Apparently this is how Tanjong Rhu gos it's name when the land is once covered by Ru.

There are separate male & female trees, & sometimes bisezual plant. The true leaves are tiny, so the green branches take oer their role in photosynthesis. Male flowers consist only of one stamen but many male flowers are found on the pendulous branch tips. Female flowers consist of a single pistil & are bunched together in a structure resembling a head of bright reddish-pink hair. The fruits resembling tiny durians.

So tolerant of salt is the Ru that specimens growing on eroded beaches can have their roots immersed in seawater at high tide.

Information taken from '35 native plants of singapore' by Hugh T.W. Tan & Chua Keng Soon

Pictures can be found here: http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/plants/coastal/casuarina/equisetifolia.htm