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Useful Tropical Plants

Heritiera fomes

Buch.-Ham.

Malvaceae

+ Synonyms

Amygdalus minor (Roxb.) Kuntze

Balanopteris minor Gaertn.

Fometica punctata Raf.

Heritiera minor (Gaertn.) Roxb.

Common Name:

Heritiera fomes

General Information

Heritiera fomes is an evergreen tree that can grow up to 25 metres tall. The bole can be 60cm or more in diameter, though larger boles are often faulty. Buttresses are present. The tree produces pneumatophores (breathing roots) up to 30cm high[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
,
1029
Title
A Monograph of the Genus Heritiera, Aiton, (Sterculariaceae).
Publication
Reinwardtia Vol. 4, Part 4, pp 465 - 583
Author
Kostermans A.J.G.H.
Publisher
Herbarium Bogoriense, Indonesia.
Year
1959
ISBN
 
Description
Somewhat dated, but an excellent monograph of the genus Heritiera. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The tree is commonly harvested from the wild for local use of its wood. It is a valuable commercial species that is grown in plantations for its wood[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
This species has a restricted distribution in South Asia and is found in the landward margin of mangroves - which is the area most threatened by coastal development. It can be locally common, but there has been an estimated population decline of 50% to 80% in the majority of its range (Malaysia) since the 1950s, primarily due to the clearing of mangroves for rice farming, shrimp aquaculture and coastal development. The plant is classified as 'Endangered' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013). However, populations in India and Bangladesh are rapidly declining and may qualify for Critically Endangered at a regional level[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

1029
Title
A Monograph of the Genus Heritiera, Aiton, (Sterculariaceae).
Publication
Reinwardtia Vol. 4, Part 4, pp 465 - 583
Author
Kostermans A.J.G.H.
Publisher
Herbarium Bogoriense, Indonesia.
Year
1959
ISBN
 
Description
Somewhat dated, but an excellent monograph of the genus Heritiera. It can be downloaded from the Internet.

Range

E. Asia - India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia.

Habitat

Mangrove forests in the upstream estuarine zone of the high intertidal region, preferring freshwater[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].

Properties

Conservation StatusEndangered
Edibility Rating *
Other Uses Rating *  *  *
HabitEvergreen Tree
Height0.00 m
Cultivation StatusCultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details



Plants can be fast-growing in low-saline environments[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].

Edible Uses

Seed - rich in starch, it is eaten in times of food shortage[
1029
Title
A Monograph of the Genus Heritiera, Aiton, (Sterculariaceae).
Publication
Reinwardtia Vol. 4, Part 4, pp 465 - 583
Author
Kostermans A.J.G.H.
Publisher
Herbarium Bogoriense, Indonesia.
Year
1959
ISBN
 
Description
Somewhat dated, but an excellent monograph of the genus Heritiera. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. The seed contains tannins and is very astringent unless these are first removed by leeching the seeds in cold water[
1029
Title
A Monograph of the Genus Heritiera, Aiton, (Sterculariaceae).
Publication
Reinwardtia Vol. 4, Part 4, pp 465 - 583
Author
Kostermans A.J.G.H.
Publisher
Herbarium Bogoriense, Indonesia.
Year
1959
ISBN
 
Description
Somewhat dated, but an excellent monograph of the genus Heritiera. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Two common methods around the world for removing tannins are:-
A quick method of removing them is to cook the seeds in several changes of water until the cook water is either free of bitterness, or the bitterness has been reduced to acceptable levels.
A more traditional, and slower, method is to leach the tannins by thoroughly washing the seed in running water, though many minerals will also be lost. Either the whole seed can be used, or the seed can be dried and ground it into a powder. It can take several days or even weeks to properly leach whole seeds, one method was to wrap them in a cloth bag and place them in a stream. Leaching the powder is quicker. A simple taste test can tell when the tannins have been leached sufficiently.

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

Tannins are obtained from the bark and seed[
1029
Title
A Monograph of the Genus Heritiera, Aiton, (Sterculariaceae).
Publication
Reinwardtia Vol. 4, Part 4, pp 465 - 583
Author
Kostermans A.J.G.H.
Publisher
Herbarium Bogoriense, Indonesia.
Year
1959
ISBN
 
Description
Somewhat dated, but an excellent monograph of the genus Heritiera. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

The heartwood is brownish to dark red, sometimes faintly streaked with black; the sapwood is a pale reddish-brown. The texture is fine; the grain close and even, and somewhat interlocked; there is no characteristic odour or taste. The wood is very hard, heavy, elastic and durable. It is used for construction[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
,
1029
Title
A Monograph of the Genus Heritiera, Aiton, (Sterculariaceae).
Publication
Reinwardtia Vol. 4, Part 4, pp 465 - 583
Author
Kostermans A.J.G.H.
Publisher
Herbarium Bogoriense, Indonesia.
Year
1959
ISBN
 
Description
Somewhat dated, but an excellent monograph of the genus Heritiera. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The wood is a good source of fuel, and makes a good quality charcoal[
338
Title
IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.iucnredlist.org/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
,
1029
Title
A Monograph of the Genus Heritiera, Aiton, (Sterculariaceae).
Publication
Reinwardtia Vol. 4, Part 4, pp 465 - 583
Author
Kostermans A.J.G.H.
Publisher
Herbarium Bogoriense, Indonesia.
Year
1959
ISBN
 
Description
Somewhat dated, but an excellent monograph of the genus Heritiera. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

Propagation

Seed -
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-03-29. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Heritiera+fomes>

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