Horned mangrove, River Mangrove
Aegiceras corniculatum

Family: Primulaceae

What it is like

A small tree or shrub. It grows up to 1.5-7 m tall. It often has several stems. The young branches are reddish brown. The bark is smooth and grey to brown. The leaf stalk is 5-10 mm long. The leaves are oval. They are 2.5-8.5 cm long by 0.9-3.6 cm wide. They are leathery. There are 7-11 side veins on each side of the main vein. The midrib is easily seen under the leaf. The flower arrangement is made up of flowers from a common point arranged on stalks of equal length. They arise from a knob like point. The fruit are curved and like a cylinder up to 8 cm long by 5-6 mm across. They taper to a sharp point.

There are 2 Aegiceras species. Also put in the family Myrsinaceae. Myrsinaceae are mainly in the tropics.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in tropical and warm temperate areas. It occurs along banks of tidal creeks. It is also on the seaward edge of mangroves. It can grow in brackish and salty water. It likes light.

Countries/locations it is found in

Andamans, Asia, Australia, Bangladesh, China, East Timor, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Lord Howe Island, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, SE Asia, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The leaves are eaten raw or cooked. The fruit are cooked and eaten. Salt is collected from the leaves.

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

Edible parts

Leaves, salt, fruit, vegetable

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seed.

Its other names

Local names

Cat, Dudumara, Halsi, Kanjala, Khalshi, La zhu guo, Narikandam, Su, Teruntum, Tra, Truntung

Synonyms

Rhizophora corniculata L.; Aegiceras majus Gaertner; Aegiceras fragrans K.D.Koenig; Umbraculum corniculatum (L.) Kuntze;