RHIZOPHORACEAE. 251 
RHIZOPHORA. Mangrove. 
(Family Rhizophoraceae). 
Semi-aquatic shrubs or small 
trees of the tropical seaside, lifted 
above the water on outcurving 
roots: evergreen. Twigs rather 
stout, round: pith large, round, 
continuous, brown. Buds solitary, 
sessile, small, indefinite, with a 
stipular scale; their position often 
marked by a flower-scar. Leaf- 
scars low, half-round or very per- 
fectly transversely elliptical, 
crowded toward the end of the sea- 
son’s growth: bundle-traces 3, 
round, becoming indistinct: sti- 
pule-scars encircling the stem. 
Leaves simple, entire, petioled. 
Fruit commonly germinating on 
the plant, the dart-like seedlings 
later falling into the mud. 
The common mangrove, Rhizo- 
phora Mangle, a salt-loving plant, 
forms one of the most striking and characteristic features of 
tropical shores, where it occupies lagoons behind the beach 
or follows the coral formation to the extreme depth of water 
in which it can exist. The stilted roots on which it stands 
and its rather fine branching and deep green color produce an 
appearance of delicate finish quite in contrast with the shores 
from which it is absent. Figures of the mangrove are pub- 
lished by S. M. Coulter in the Report of the Missouri Botani- 
cal Garden, vol. 15, pl. 22-23. Its precocious germination has 
been the subject of many observations by travelers and natu- 
ralists. It forms clearly marked annual rings in its wood. 
Glabrous: leaves elliptical, coriaceous, R. Mangle, 
