Tall-stilted Mangrove
Rhizophora apiculata

Family: Rhizophoraceae

What it is like

A medium height straight tree. It grows up to 5-12 m tall. It usually has prop roots covered with breathing pores. The leaves are dark green and not rolled at the edge. They are somewhat dull on top and twice as long as wide and end in a sharp tip. The leaves can be 8-19 cm long and 4-9 cm wide. The flowers are in pairs or short stalks. They are cream and 1.5 cm long. The flowers normally occur as 2 together below the oldest leaves. The fruit are relatively small 21 mm wide. The hypocotyl is green and about 280 mm long with a blunt tip.

There are 6 Rhizophora species. There are 3 species in tropical America. They are also put in the family Sonnerataceae.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It occurs in the middle to upper part of the mangrove where fresh water runoff is constant. It occurs from India, Australia to Vanuatu.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Asia, Australia, Cambodia, China, Chuuk, East Africa, Guam, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, Micronesia, Myanmar, New Caledonia, Pacific, Pakistan, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Pohnpei, SE Asia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Vanuatu, Vietnam, West Timor, Yap

How it is used for food

The fruit are boiled in water then eaten.

Edible parts

Fruit, hypocotyl, leaves

How it is grown

It is normally self sown.

Its other names

Local names

Bngaol, Daboja, Jangkah, Naya kandal, Pointed Asiatic mangrove, Pukulijupa, Purirringa, Thakafathi

Synonyms

Rhizophora candelaria DC.; Rhizophora conjugata Hanslow, non Linn.;