Common Trees of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands

MANGROVE FAMILY (RHIZOPHORACEAE)
179. Mangle colorado, mangrove Rhizophora mangle L.
This common species on protected muddy sea- very heavy (specific gravity 0.9-1.2 , durable in
shores is easily recognized by the mass of peculjar, the soil but susceptible to attack y dry-wood
branching, curved and arching stilt roots, enablip termites.
the trees to spread in shallow salt and brackis f 1 Used as roundwood, for posts and poles and
water and form dense, impenetrable thickets at excellent for fuel and charcoal. Elsewhere the
tide level. Other distinguishing characteristics mood in larger sizes hns been employed also for
are: (1) the conspicuous, nam, long, pointed, marine piling and wharves, shipbuilding, and
green terminal buds; (2) the opposite, elli tic, in cabinetwork. The bark is important commerblunt-pointed,
shiny green leaves, slightly leat R ery cially in tanning leather, and the leaves are rich
and fleshy, and yellow green beneath ; (3) the ale in tannin also. A dye and medicines have been
yellow flowers about s/4 inch across .with 4 mi $ ely obtained from the bark. Fisharmen in Puerto
spreading narrow and leathery sepals, usually 2-4 Rico preserve their lines ~vith an extract from the
in stalked lateral clusters; and 4) the unique dark roots.
brown fruits about 1% inches I ong and lh inch in Blnngrove forests on depositing shores aid in
diameter, rempininq attached, each containin extending the shore line, holding the black mud
growing seedling with long narrow podlike fa rst in place and gradually advancing on the side toroot
up to 1 foot lon and hanging down.
ward the ocean. This species with its stilt roots
Commonly a sma f 1 tree 15-25 feet or more in growing in shallow water ,extends farther seaheight,
evergreen, with an erect trunk 8 inches or ward than the 3 other species of mangroves.
more in diameter. Formerly probably much Common to abundant in mangrove swamp forlar
er. The bark is gray or gray brown, smooth, ests over 1ar flat areas of silty or muddy shares
an 8 thin on small trunks, becomin furrowed and in salt and
thick on larger ones. Inner bar E
C rackish water around Puerto Rico.
is reddish or Forming pure stands on the sea side of such forpinkish,
with slightly bitter and salty taste. The ests and mixed with other mangrove species farstout
twigs are gray or brown, bearing several ther inland. Also in Mona. Vieques, St. Croix,
crowded leaves near apex. The bud is 1-2 inches St Thomas, St. John, Tortola, and Anegndn.
long, covered with 2 .green scales (stipules) around PUBLIC ~~~ST~.-Agllirre, RoquerBn, Ceiba,
the pair of developing leaves and which make a Guiinica, Snn Juan.
rin scar on the twig upon shedding.
RANGE.-Shores of central and southern Florida
#he slight1 flattened petioles are '/r'/8 inch including Florida ICeys, Bermuda, and throughlong.
Leaf b 9 ades are 21/24 inches long and 1- out West Indies (exce + Dominica) to Trinidad
23% inches broad, blunt-pointed at apex and short- and Tobago and Dutch 7 Vest Indies. Also on both
pointed at base, the edges slightly rolled under. coasts of continental tropical America from cen-
Flowers are 2-4 together on a forked green tral Mexico south to Ecuador and northwestern
stalk alto ether 11/24 inches long, sli htly fra- Peru and to Brazil. Also in Galapagos Islands,
grant. ~ % bell-shaped e pale yellow fase Melanesia, and Polynesia.
panthiurn) less than j/a inch long bears 4 mi LhT e y OTHER COJIBION NAMES.-mangle, mangle zapaspreading
narrow pale yellow sepals almost 1/2 tero, mangle de chifle (Puerto Rico) ; mangle
inch long, leathery and persistent; there are 4 Virgin Islands) ; mangle, mangle colorado
narrow petals 3/R inch long, curved downward, Spanish) ; mangle gateador,. mangle caballero
whitish but turning brown, white woolly or cot- (Costa Rica) ; mangle salado (Panama) ; mangle
tony on inner side; 8 stamens; and the plstil con- rojo (Venezuela) ; mangle injerto (Ecuador) ;
sists of a 2-celled ovary, mostly inferior but coni- mangrove, red mangrove (United States, Engcal
at apex, with 2 ovules in each cell, slender style, lish) ; black mangrove (British Guiana) ; manand
2-lobed stigma.
glier, mangliar rouge (Haiti) ; paletuvier rouge
The single seed germinates inside the conical (French, commerce) ;
fruit, formin a lon narrow first root (radicle)
manglier rouge, mangle
green except 4 or the Lb rown enlarged and pointed
rouge, mangle noir, manglier chandelle (Guadeend
up to v2 inch in diameter. When about 1 loupe) ; mange1 tan (Dutch West Indies) ; manfoot
lon , the heavy seedling falls and is usual1 gro (Surinam) ; mangue sapateiro, mangue vercarried
C y water before becoming firmly rooted: melho (Brazil).
Flowering and fruitin through the year. BOTANICAL BYNO~S.-Rhkophora mangle
The sapwood is lig f t brown, the heartwood var. samoensia Hochr., R. samemb (Hochr.)
reddish brown or dark brown. The wood is hard, Salvoza.
b