Rhizophora apiculata

Blume

Tall-stilted Mangrove

Rhizophoraceae Edible: Fruit, Hypocotyl, Leaves 1,318 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

The tall-stilt mangrove (Rhizophora apiculata) is a species of flowering plant distributed throughout Southeast Asia and the western Pacific islands. It is located exclusively in the mangrove ecosystem due to an affinity to wet, muddy and silty sediments. Due to the high salt concentrations of the soils in these environments, it has mechanisms (ultrafiltration) in place to reduce the likely impacts associated with increased salt in plant physiology (drying plant material down causing increased evapotranspiration). Rhizophora apiculata and R. mucronata are used to make charcoal in the charcoal kilns of Kuala Sepetang in Perak, Malaysia. Rhizophora apiculata is used within mangrove plantation specifically for wood, and charcoal production in many parts of Thailand. There are alternative uses for R. apiculata, such as to reinforce nets, ropes and fishing lines, transform into charcoal or trade for income.

Description

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.

Edible Uses

The fruit are boiled in water then eaten. The leaves and hypocotyl are also edible parts.

Traditional Uses

The fruit are boiled in water then eaten.

This uses section is brief — help expand it

Distribution

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.

Where It Grows

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

Cultivation

It is normally self sown.

Notes

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

Synonyms

Rhizophora candelaria DC.Rhizophora conjugata Hanslow, non Linn.

Also Known As

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

References (27)

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Beasley, J., 2011, Plants of Tropical North Queensland - the compact guide. Footloose publications. p 13
Bhargava, N., 1983, Ethnobotanical Studies of the Tribes of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. 1. Onge. Economic Botany 37(1): 110-119
Borrell, O.W., 1989, An Annotated Checklist of the Flora of Kairiru Island, New Guinea. Marcellin College, Victoria Australia. p 121

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