Rhizophora mangle L.

Shrubs or trees, 6–7[–25] m. Prop roots numerous, arching, 2–4.5 m. Leaves: stipules lanceolate, leaving ring-shaped scar; petioles 1.5–2 cm; blade elliptic, 6–12 × 2.2–6 cm, thick, leathery, base rounded-cuneate, apex acute to obtuse, midvein extended into caducous point, abaxial surface pale green, black punctate, adaxial surface dark green, shiny; midvein conspicuous, higher order veins obscure. Inflorescences mostly 2–4-flowered, 4–7 cm. Flowers 2 cm diam.; hypanthium campanulate-funnelform, 5 mm; sepals widely spreading, pale yellow, lanceolate or narrowly triangular, 12 mm, leathery; petals recurved, creamy white, turning brown in age, narrowly lanceolate to linear, 6–10 × 1.5–2 mm, adaxially wooly, soon deciduous; anthers sessile; ovary conic; style slender; stigma receptive after stamens and petals fall. Berries persistent on tree until after seed germination, rusty or dark brown, 3 cm; sepals spreading to reflexed. Seed with hypocotyl becoming elongate, cylindric, to 12–25 × 1.2 cm, apex sharply pointed. 2n = 36.

Mangrove swamp forests over large flat areas of silty or muddy shores in salt and brackish water. Often forms pure stands on the seaward side and forms part of mixed stands on the landward side. Usually extends father seaward than other mangroves.

The fermented juice of the fruit is used to produce wine. The starch of the fruit is used fresh and fermented. The roots and green sprouts or hypocotyl are also used the same way. The dried leaves are used for tea. (It is high in tannin so should be used sparingly and preferably milk added to bind the tannin) The roots are used as an emergency food.

The fruit can produce seedlings which float.