Common Name: Indian Mangrove

General Information

Indian mangrove is an evergreen shrub or tree, usually growing 8 - 18 metres tall but exceptionally to 25 metres[, ]. The short, often crooked, bole can be up to 100cm in diameter[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for a wide range of uses including medicinal purposes, a source of tannins and timber and a dye plant.
This species is widespread and common within its range. It is threatened by the loss of mangrove habitat throughout its range, primarily due to extraction and coastal development, and there has been an estimated 24% decline in mangrove area within this species range since 1980. Mangrove species are more at risk from coastal development and extraction at the extremes of their distribution, and are likely to be contracting in these areas more than in other areas. It is also likely that changes in climate due to global warming will further affect these parts of the range. Although there are overall range declines in many areas, they are not enough to reach any of the threatened category thresholds. This species is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2011)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Coasts of tropical Asia from Pakistan through to the Philippines and Australia.

Habitat

A plant of coastal marshes, found mostly on brackish or saline silts of depositing shores[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	25.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the moist to wet tropics and subtropics, where it is always found at around sea-level near the coast. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 25 - 34°c, but can tolerate 15 - 38°c[]. It can be killed by temperatures of -1°c or lower[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,000 - 3,000mm, but tolerates 800 - 4,000mm[].
A plant of the coastal marshes, needing to grow in this habitat if it is to thrive. It requires a sunny position[]. Plants succeed in alkaline and saline conditions[]. Succeeds with a pH in the range 6 - 8.5[]. Prefers a pH in the range 6.5 - 7, tolerating 6 - 7.5[].
Planting of this species is usually not needed because natural regeneration is so successful. In Avicennia and Rhizophora direct seeding result in ca 90% survival[].
Since this mangrove can regrow rapidly from buds beneath the bark along the trunk and branches, it is said to suffer little from removal of much of the branchwood[].
Good mangrove stands can show annual productivity of 10 - 20 (-25) metric tonnes per hectare per year[]. Because of the heaviness of the wood, a cubic meter of mangrove is generally more valuable than other species[]. Litter fall may account for 1/3 - 1/2 of aboveground productivity[].

Edible Uses

The bitter fruits and seeds are sometimes used for food after rather an elaborate processing[]. Eaten after baking or steaming[].

Medicinal

Indian mangrove is a folk remedy for boils and tumours - the fruits are plastered onto tumours in India[].

The roots are said to be aphrodisiac[].

Unripe seeds are poulticed onto abscesses, boils, and smallpox sores[].

The bark is used for treating skin afflictions, especially scabies[].

A green, bitter, resinous substance that exudes from the bark is said to act as a contraceptive, and apparently can be taken all year long without ill effects[]. The resin is also used to treat snakebite.[].

Other Uses

The bark and roots are used for tanning[, ]. The tannin content may be as low as 2.5%[].
The bark is used for dying cloth

The ash of the wood is rich in alkali and is used for washing cloth[].

The wood has an attractive grain and is suitable for cabinet work[]. It is used to construct boats, houses, and wharves, has been recommended for creosoted paving blocks and has been studied as a possible pulp source[, ].
Brittle wood is used for firewood[].

Propagation

Seed - there is no dormancy, but the seeds are normally sown with the fruit cover removed, because it is highly susceptible to fungus attack[]. Fresh seeds often have very high germination, typically more than 95%[]. Seed that has imbibed moisture will usually have radicle formation within 3 days from sowing[].
Division of root suckers[].

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