White false mangrove
Laguncularia racemosa

Family: Combretaceae

What it is like

A mangrove shrub or small tree. It grows 6 m high. The trunk is straight. The bark is grey with fine cracks along it. The roots extend away from the base of the trunk. There are breathing roots. The leaves are opposite and rounded at both ends. The leaves are smooth with faint side veins. There are 2 small glands on the leaf stalk. The flowers are white in spikes between the leaves. The fruit are winged capsules.

Where it is found

A tropical plant. It grows in brackish water in mangroves and tidal swamps. It grows towards the dry land side.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Bahamas, Belize, Brazil, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Cuba (country/location of origin), Curacao, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guatemala, Guiana, Guianas, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Ivory Coast, Lesser Antilles (country/location of origin), Mexico, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North America, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South America (country/location of origin), St. Kitts and Nevis, Suriname, USA, Venezuela, West Africa, West Indies (country/location of origin)

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Fruit, honey

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Bteque, Bufende, Cabaguela, Cahaguela, Conge, Fofoti, Green turtle bough, M'pende, Mangle amarillo, Mangle blanco, Mangle bobo, N'concom, Oellha, Pfeque, Tarafe, Tarrafe-preto, Unconcom

Synonyms

Conocarpus racemosa L.; Laguncularia obovata Miq.;