I Speak For The Trees

Casuarina equisetifolia, growing in the Plaza Central of Loja, Loja Province.  Casuarina are medium to tall trees, growing up to 35 meters, which superficially resemble true conifers.  They are wispy in appearance and more tolerant to high winds than the Pinales, and are often planted in the tropics as substitute trees.  Most varieties of Casuarina are dioeceous, bearing their male and female flowers on separate trees; C. equisetifolia is monoeceous and bears both genders on the same tree.  Male flowers are short, simple spikes, and female flowers are borne on short peduncles (visible as dots in the photo.)  Casuarina produce spiky fruits that resemble cones.

The 17 species of Casuarina are native to Australia and Southeast Asia, but have been naturalized over much of the tropics as they are more heat, humidity, and wind resistant than the true conifers.  Propagation is by seed, and the tree can be extremely long-lived.  This tree was planted on the founding date of the City of Loja, which makes it somewhere in the neighborhood of 460 years old.