Candel, Five-petaled mangrove
Kandelia candel
Family: Rhizophoraceae
What it is like
An evergreen shrub. It grows 1-3 m high. The branches have distinct scars. The leaves are opposite and broadly oval. They are 4-11 cm long by 2-5 cm wide. The flowers are white. They have a half round or cup shaped ring where the petals and sepals join. The sepals are fleshy and the petals bend backwards. They have 2 deep lobes. The fruit are oval and fleshy. They are 1 cm long. There is one viable seed.
There are two or possibly only one Kandelia species.
Where it is found
It is a subtropical plant. It grows in shallow waters in the estuaries in Hong Kong. It grows in mangroves.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, China, Myanmar, SE Asia, Taiwan
How it is used for food
The young root has been used as food.
Edible parts
Root
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Baing-daungshe, Byu-baing-dauk