Rhizophora

Linnaeus

Sp. Pl. 1: 443. 1753.

Common names: Mangrove
Etymology: Greek rhiza, root, and phoros, bearing, alluding to conspicuous prop roots
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 12. Treatment on page 155. Mentioned on page 154.

Shrubs or trees, with aerial prop roots and swollen stem nodes. Leaves: stipules sheathing terminal bud, caducous; blade surfaces glabrous. Inflorescences dense, dichotomously branched cymes; bracteoles forming cup just below flower. Flowers: sepals persistent in fruit; filaments absent [much shorter than anthers]; ovary apically partly surrounded by nectary, free part elongating after anthesis. Berries brown, ovoid-conic [ovoid or pyriform], leathery. Seeds: germination viviparous; hypocotyl protruding and elongating before seedling falls from fruit.

Distribution

Seacoasts nearly throughout tropics and subtropics.

Discussion

Species 8 or 9 (1 in the flora).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa