Common Name:

General Information

Sonneratia ovata is an evergreen tree with a columnar crown; it can grow up to 10 metres tall with occasional specimens to 20 metres[]. The bole, which is usually short and twisted, is up to 20cm in diameter[]. The tree produces thin, pointed pneumatophores (vertical roots arising above the ground from shallow, horizontal roots) about 20cm tall[].
The plant has limited local use for food, medicine and fuel. It is cultivated as an ornamental in some villages in coastal Sarawak[].
This species can be common through most of its range, but is increasingly rare at the extremities of its range[]. There are increasing threats to mangrove swamps in general, mainly from human activities. Consequently, the tree has been classified as 'Near Threatened' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2010)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Southeast Asia - southern China, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, New Guinea.

Habitat

Landward edge of mangrove swamps in brackish water and muddy soil[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Near Threatened
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	10.00 m
Pollinators	Bats, Birds
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

The flowers are nocturnal, opening in the evening and falling off in the morning[].

Edible Uses

The fruits are edible, though they taste very sour[]. Because of their acidity they are sometimes used as substitutes for vinegar[].

Medicinal

The fermented juice is believed to check haemorrhages[].
The fruit is applied in poultices to relieve sprain.[]

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant can be used to control erosion of tidal river banks[].

Other Uses

The bark contains tannin, but in amounts too small for commercial exploitation[].

The wood has been described as moderately hard to very hard and moderately heavy to heavy[].
The wood is used as firewood[].

Propagation

Seed -

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