Tagal mangrove, Yellow mangrove
Ceriops tagal

Family: Rhizophoraceae

What it is like

An evergreen tree. It grows 8-25 m high. It can also be a bush in some locations. It has stilt roots. These are like five fingers rising from the mud. The bark is light brown. The leaves are green and shiny. They are leathery and oval shaped. The tip is rounded and they taper near the base. The leaves are 7 cm long by 3.5 cm wide. The flowers are creamy white. They are star shaped. They have many red stamens. The fruit are 20 cm long. They are cone shaped. They are greenish brown.

There are 3 Ceriops species.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in mangrove swamps. It grows on well drained soils not far from the sea and within the reach of occasional tides. It can tolerate salt conditions.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Andamans, Asia, Australia, Cambodia, China, East Africa, East Timor, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Micronesia, Mozambique, Myanmar, Pacific, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, SE Asia, Solomon Islands, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The leathery, berry-like fruit is eaten.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Seedlings can be split in half and both halves will grow.

Its other names

Local names

Biut, Farafaka, Gedera, Goran, Karakana, Madama, Madama-myaw, Marrakali, Me, Mkandaa, Pandikutti, Panlon, Plong, Prong deng, Prong, Spurred mangrove, Tangambavy, Tengar, Tumulupuluka, Yellow mangrove, Yellow-leaved spurred mangrove

Synonyms

Ceriops candolleana Arn.; Ceriops somalensis Chiovenda; Rhizophora tagal Perr.; Rhiziphora timorensis DC.;