THE Casuarina tree, known locally as the Needle and Thread tree, is another tree that is popular at this time as a living Christmas tree, being an evergreen shrub.
The foliage consists of long, wispy pine needles, tiny brown flowers, and tiny cone–like fruits that contain seeds.

The trunk is branched and clothed with uneven bark, which cracks and falls away in long strips.
Outdoors, the trees can grow as much as sixty feet in height.

Casuarina is a genus of 17 species in the family Casuarinaceae. It is native to Australasia, the Indian Subcontinent, Southeast Asia, and islands of the western Pacific Ocean.
Also known as the she-oak, ironwood, or beefwood, casuarinas are commonly grown in tropical and subtropical areas throughout the world.

The tree has delicate, slender, ultimate branches and leaves that are no more than scales, making the tree look more like a wispy conifer.

The plants are very tolerant of windswept locations, and are widely planted as windbreaks near houses or outdoor recreational areas, although usually not in agricultural situations.

It has been cultivated throughout South India to retrieve the sandy seashore.
Because of its popularity as a decorative tree, people in the coastal districts and island regions often use it as a roadside or garden tree.

The whispers and sighs of the branches of the casuarinas tree as breeze passes through it can be easily compared to the distant murmur of waves on a seashore.

In Guyana, at this time, the casuarinas serve as outdoor Christmas trees on which decorations such as garlands and tinsel, and sometimes even fairy lights, are strung to add to the happy atmosphere of the season.

Many Guyanese have found that casuarinas also survive trimming, which can transform the plants into an excellent hedge when planted close to each other and pruned to remain at a desirable height.
Casuarinas serve as a hedge in many yards of homes in Georgetown.

The casuarina looks good all year round, but is a special tree at Christmastime, when proud owners decorate it to reflect the colour and joyousness of the season.