Buttonwood
Conocarpus erectus

Family: Combretaceae

What it is like

A shrub or tree. It is often 1-4 m tall but can grow 20 m tall. The trunk can be 1 m across. The bark is thick and has broad plates. The leaves are simple and arranged alternately. The leaves are narrowly oval. They are 2-7 cm long by 1-3 cm wide. The flowers are small and green. The fruit are clusters of small winged seeds. They are like buttons. The seeds float.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows along the coast. It is resistant to salt spray. It grows in mangroves. It can grow up to 700 m above sea level. It needs to be in a sunny position.

Countries/locations it is found in

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

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Vegetable ?, medicine

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seed. It can be used for a hedge.

Its other names

Local names

Ariata, Buttonbush, Button mangrove, Button-tree, False mangrove, Florida buttonwood

Synonyms

Conocarpus acutifolius Willd. ex Schult.; Conocarpus procumbens L.; Conocarpus sericeus J. R. Forst. ex G. Don; Conocarpus sericeus (Griseb.) Jimenez; Conocarpus supina Crantz; Terminalia erecta (L.) Baill.;