Tamaricaceae

Tamarix aphylla

Common Names: Athel pine

Plant Form: Small spreading tree. Size: Up to 12 m tall. Stem: Reddish-brown to grey-green and smooth when young, turning darker and rough with age. Leaves: Tiny scales 1-2 mm long arranged along cylindrical branchlets. Flowers: Pale pink to white, small in long clusters with 5 small petals. Fruit and Seeds: Bell shaped capsules 2-3 mm long, with numerous hairy seeds within. Habitat: Along waterways, woodlands, grasslands, pastures, roadsides. Distinguishing Features: Flowers distinguish from Pines (Pinus species) and Sheoaks (Casuarinaceae) but hard to distinguish from other Tamarisks (Tamarix species) without expert advice. Impacts: Displaces native species, decreases available pasture, lowers water table, can alter native fire regimes by suppressing fire.

Leaves often grey

Spreys of small pink flowers

Medium tree

Trunk

Leaves are segmented