by Juliet Bodycomb
This article is the latest in our series, Know Your Park Lands Plants, where we introduce you to some of the myriad species that populate your Adelaide Park Lands.
Callitris gracilis, commonly known as the slender cypress-pine, southern cypress pine, or native pine, is a conifer species native to southern Australia.
It can be found in most Australian states and occurs in your Golden Wattle Park / Mirnu Wirra (Park 21W), GS Kingston Park / Wirrarninthi (Park 23), and especially Gladys Elphick Park / Narnungga (Park 25), among others. ‘Narnungga’ actually means ‘native pine place’.
The native pine is a broad, conical tree that grows up to 20 metres tall. Its name derives from its morphological similarities with northern hemisphere cypresses.
However, as cypresses are from the family, Cupressaceae, neither are, in fact, true pines! Pines belong to a separate conifer family, Pinaceae, and can be distinguished by their long, needle-like leaves.
Morphological differences between cypress (a) and pine (b) leaves. Photo: Faris M. AL-Oqla.
Callitris gracilis is an evergreen tree, bearing flattened shoots and small, scaled leaves. Often found in sandy, rocky areas with notably low rainfall, its dark foliage creates a lively splash of colour against an often-dry landscape.
The native pine is what’s known as a ‘seeder’ – a plant that depends on fire to germinate. Fire triggers its small, rounded, woody cones to open and release seeds into the landscape.
A native pine in Golden Wattle Park / Mirnu Wirra (Park 21W). Photo: Pam Quick on iNaturalist.
Callitris gracilis provides shelter for myriad bird and insect species and is an attractive food source for parrots and cockatoos, which feed on its cone-covered seeds.
Native pine cones, containing seeds, in Bonython Park / Tulya Wardli (Park 27). Photo: ozzielabrat on iNaturalist.
Want to know more about the plants in your Park Lands? Head over to iNaturalist, where you can record, share, and discuss your findings with fellow naturalists.
See the other plants featured in this series here: https://www.adelaide-parklands.asn.au/know-your-park-lands-plants.
Main photo: Native pine in GS Kingston Park / Wirrarninthi (Park 23). Photo: mnetting on iNaturalist.
***
Juliet Bodycomb is a biodiversity and conservation student at Flinders University and science writer for the Adelaide Park Lands Association and the Biological Society of South Australia.
She has an academic background in anthropology and is the recipient of the Australian Government's prestigious New Colombo Plan 2024 Scholarship, which will see her moving to Fiji to continue her studies in conservation biology and intern with multiple environmental organisations.
In her free time, Juliet enjoys hiking, reading, writing, and adventuring with her two border collies.
