Your thoughts on this. – Arlene B., Sanibel Answer: Despite its common name, Australian pine is not a pine; Causuarina vs. Pinus. It usually takes more than a 55-mph wind to topple Australian pines.

The Australian pine trees, with their large root system, were damaging the road base, Earman said, and the pine needles prohibit anything from growing underneath the trees.

The Australian pine was introduced in the 1800s as a salt tolerant tree to provide shade but ended up being a massive problem. The needle-like-leaves kill native plants around it, harms nesting ...