Firefly mangrove, Red-flowered Pornupan mangrove
Sonneratia caseolaris

Family: Lythraceae

What it is like

A medium sized tree. It grows 6-20 m tall. The trunk is swollen at the base when young. The trunk can be 30 cm across. Air roots are up to 60 cm long. The smallest branches are jointed and 4 angled. The leaves are thick, leathery and narrow. They are opposite. They are 5-13 cm long by 2-5 cm wide. The flowers occur singly. The petals are red and narrow and fall off very early. The outer case of sepals is green. The fruit are hard, round and pressed down at the tip. They are 4 cm long by 7.5 cm wide. They contain many seeds.

Also put in the family Sonneratiaceae.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in tropical places in Asia. It grows in swamps of brackish water. They occur along the seashore and along the upper stretches of tidal streams throughout the Philippines. It grows in wetlands. It grows in mangroves. It can grow up to 900 m above sea level. In Townsville palmetum.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Andamans, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Chuuk, FSM, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, Myanmar, New Caledonia, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, SE Asia, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vanuatu, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The fruit is cooked and eaten as food and used for vinegar. It has a sour taste. The young fruit are used for flavouring chutnies and curries. The ripe fruit can be eaten raw or cooked. They are also used for juice. The seeds and skin are removed. In Indonesia fruit are used to make syrup called Pedada.

A very minor food. The juice is important in some places. Trees are also cultivated. In some places the fruit are widely used in chutneys and curries. Fruit are also sold in some local markets.

Edible parts

Fruit, leaves, spice

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds.

Its other names

Local names

Ampie-lpu, Archa, Archaka, Ban chua, Bedat, Bedata, Berembang, Berombong, Betah, Bidada, Blatti, Bogem, Chipi, Crab apple mangrove, Gedaba, Jedaba, Kandale, Kapidada, Kinnari, Kirala, Kirilla, Kulha, Lam pu, Lampoo, Ora, Orali, Orcha, Orua, Pat, Pedada, Perepat, Pohon perepay merah, Pohon pidada merah, Shoila, Sundarignua, Thirala, Tiwar

Synonyms

Rhizophora caseolaris Linn.; Sonneratia lanceolata Bl.; Sonneratia acida Linn.f.;