Black mangrove
Avicennia germinans

Family: Acanthaceae

What it is like

A shrub or tree. It grows 20 m tall. The trunk is grey and the bark can be cracked. It has thin pneumatophores or breathing roots. They can be 30 cm long. The leaves are simple, opposite and narrow. They are 10 cm long and 3 cm wide. They are a lighter colour underneath. Salt crystals form underneath the leaf. The flowers are small and have 4 lobes. They are tube shaped and 1 cm across. They have a fragrant honey smell. The fruit is flat and green. It has one unequal sides seed. It is 2 cm wide and has a pointed end.

Also put in the family Avicenniaceae. Also put in the family Verbenaceae.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It can tolerate high levels of salt. It grows in mangrove swamps. It can grow in arid places.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Angola, Anguilla, Aruba, Bahamas, Belize, Benin, Bermuda, Brazil, Cameroon, Caribbean, Central Africa, Central America, Colombia, Congo DR, Congo R, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Gabon, Galapagos, Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guiana, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Leeward Is., Liberia, Mauritania, Mexico, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North America, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South America, St. Kitts and Nevis, Suriname, Togo, Trinidad-Tobago, USA, Venezuela, West Africa, West Indies

How it is used for food

A salt is collected from the leaves and roots. The flowers produce an attractive honey. The sprouted fruit is eaten after cooking. Caution: The fruit sprouts need special treatment to remove the poison.

It is a famine food.

Edible parts

Salt, honey, fruit sprouts, caution

How it is grown

The seedlings need to be settled on mud before they can form roots.

Its other names

Local names

Behelm, Bu bej, Bufende, Bule, Cabeco, Camangacu, Cobaca, Cudjuno, Djibicum, Honey mangrove, Iguanero, Io, Iofo, M'pende, Mangle iguanero, Mangle negro, Mang nwa, Mangle salado, Paletuvier, Palo de sal, Pebadje, Peta, Pule, Tarafo, Tarrafe, Ule

Synonyms

Avicennia africana P. Beauv.; Avicennia elliptica Holm; Avicennia floridana Raf.; Avicennia nitida Jacq.; Avicennia tomentosa Jacq.; Bontia germinans L.; and others