Golden orange mangrove
Bruguiera sexangula

Family: Rhizophoraceae

What it is like

A medium sized erect tree. It grows to 40 m high. The trunk is 80 cm across. The bark is grey. The bark is thick, ridged and very dark and contains a few large brown corky spots. The leaves are pointed at the tip and wedge shaped at the base. The midrib is prominent and the upper surface shiny while the lower surface is reddish brown. The leaves are 10-13 cm long by 4-5 cm wide. The flowers are yellow and sometimes tinged with orange. They occur singly in the axils of leaves. They are about 2.5 cm long. The fruit is cylindrical similar to "busaing" except that the germinating root is shorter. Seeds germinate on the tree before falling.

There are 6 Bruguiera species. They grow in tropical mangrove swamps.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in mud flats and estuaries. They are found in mangrove swamps throughout the Philippines.

Countries/locations it is found in

Andamans & Nicobar, Asia, Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, Christmas Island, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, Micronesia, Myanmar, New Caledonia, Pacific, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, SE Asia, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, Yap

How it is used for food

The embryo of the fruit is soaked overnight, then cooked and eaten.

It is not known if it is used for food in Papua New Guinea.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

The seeds germinate on the tree then fall and root in the mud. Seedlings transplant easily.

Its other names

Local names

Bodaa vaki, Klak, Kong klak hua sum, Langgadai, Mata buaya, Pang ka hua sum, Pasak deng, Phlaong, Pototan, Saung, Tumu barau, Tumu mata buaya

Synonyms

Bruguiera australis A. Cunn. ex Arn.; Bruguiera eriopetala Wight; and others