Rhizophora mangle
Rhizophoraceae
American mangrove, red mangrove
opposite, simple;
stipules present, interpetiolar;
petiole present;
blade margins entire [serrulate near apex];
venation pinnate.
mostly 2–4-flowered, 4–7 cm.
axillary, cymes [fascicles or flowers solitary].
2 cm diam.;
hypanthium campanulate-funnelform, 5 mm;
sepals widely spreading, pale yellow, lanceolate or narrowly triangular, 12 mm, leathery;
petals recurved, creamy white, turning brown in age, narrowly lanceolate to linear, 6–10 × 1.5–2 mm, adaxially wooly, soon deciduous;
anthers sessile;
ovary conic;
style slender;
stigma receptive after stamens and petals fall.
bisexual [rarely unisexual];
perianth and androecium perigynous [hypogynous or epigynous];
hypanthium completely adnate to ovary [adnate to ovary proximally and free distally, or absent];
sepals 4[–16], distinct or connate basally, valvate;
petals 4[–16], distinct;
nectary present [absent];
stamens [4 or]8[–32], distinct [connate basally], free;
anthers dehiscing by adaxial valve [longitudinal slits];
pistil 1, 2[–5(–20)]-carpellate;
ovary 1/2-inferior [superior to inferior], [1–]2[–5(–10)]-locular, placentation apical-axile;
ovules 2[–8] per locule, anatropous [hemitropous];
style [0–]1;
stigmas [1–]2[–4].
berries [capsules or drupes].
persistent on tree until after seed germination, rusty or dark brown, 3 cm;
sepals spreading to reflexed.
with hypocotyl becoming elongate, cylindric, to 12–25 × 1.2 cm, apex sharply pointed.
1 per fruit [1 per locule].
= 36.
Rhizophora mangle
Rhizophoraceae
Rhizophora mangle is native to the Americas and west Africa; it was introduced to Hawaii early in the 20th century for erosion control and has become invasive there. The species is particularly susceptible to freezing temperatures, which limit the northern (and southern) extent of its range. In Florida, it is found on the immediate Atlantic and Gulf seacoasts north to Saint Johns County at almost 30° north latitude (W. B. Zomlefer et al. 2006). K. C. Cavanaugh et al. (2014) determined that its abundance has increased significantly at the northern edge of the range, likely due to a decline in the frequency of severe cold events. Rhizophora mangle has recently become established along the Texas coast, presumably also as a result of a warming climate (P. A. Montagna et al. 2011).
Seedling propagules may float in the ocean and remain viable for up to a year before reaching a suitable substrate where they resume growth. Propagules occasionally wash ashore and become temporarily established north of its range (to North Carolina), but plants do not currently survive long-term (A. S. Weakley 2012). Records from the Florida panhandle are also assumed to be temporarily established plants (B. Hansen, pers. comm.).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Genera 17, species ca. 120 (1 in the flora).
Bruguiera gymnorrhiza (Linnaeus) Savigny (large-leafed orange mangrove), native to the Indian and western Pacific Islands, has been found as an escape in Miami-Dade County, Florida. It is considered invasive in Florida and efforts are underway to eradicate it. Bruguiera may be distinguished from Rhizophora by its 8–16 sepals and petals and lack of aerial stilt roots.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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