46 MANGROVE SWAMPS 
are thick and leathery, narrow, and taper to a broad, short 
petiole. They are from 4 to 10 centimeters long and from 2 
to 4 centimeters wide. The flowers occur singly; the calyx is 
green, 2.5 to 3 centimeters long, and divided into six to eight 
angular lobes which are longer than the calyx tube. The petals 
are six in number, narrow, pink or white, and about as long 
as the calyx segments. The stamens are very numerous and 
the style long. The fruit is hard, 3 to 4 centimeters in diameter, 
rounded but depressed at the apex; the base is surrounded by 
the calyx tube, the lobes of which still persist when the fruit 
is mature. The fruit contains many seeds. 
SONNERATIA CASEOLARIS (Linn.) Engl. (Plates XVI, XVII). PAGATPAT. 
Local names: Pagatpat (Cebu, Camarines, Tayabas, Cagayan, Samar, 
Agusan, Basilan, Zambales, Cotabato, Palawan, Mindoro, Zamboanga, Pa- 
nay, Guimaras Island, Negros, Leyte, Bataan, Lanao); bundyon (Dinagat 
Island); patpdt (Butuan); lukabbdn, ilukabban, lukabbadn (Cagayan) ; 
pirara and palalan (Cotabato); buigalon (Masbate). 
This is a tree of the outer part of the swamp, and often occurs 
even on exposed reefs. The trunk is swollen at the base, at 
least when young. The air roots are usually from a few centi- 
meters to 60 centimeters in length. In some places along river 
banks, where the tree is growing in soft mud, they are much 
longer, and have been known to reach a length of more than 
2 meters. The bark is very dark gray. Sonneratia caseolaris 
may reach a diameter of 175 centimeters and a clear length of 
26 meters. 
The wood is moderately hard and moderately heavy to heavy. 
The sapwood is 3 to 8 centimeters thick, light grayish brown; 
the heartwood light brown to dark chocolate. When wet or 
under varnish, the heartwood of old mature trees looks almost 
black. The grain is straight or very slightly crossed; the texture 
fine, very homogeneous, smooth, but not glossy; it has a distinct 
salty taste and a fishy or swampy odor, especially when fresh. 
Boards season fairly well, but logs and heavy planks are liable 
to check internally. It is easy to work. It lasts well in the 
ground and even the sapwood is rarely attacked by insects; the 
heartwood is said to resist teredos very well. It is used for 
piles; posts, poles; ties; paving blocks; ship, bridge, and wharf 
building; general strong construction; doors; siding, sheathing, 
ceiling, flooring, and all kinds of interior finish; ship planking 
and decking; furniture and cabinetwork; and musical instru- 
ments. The wood contains a small amount of salt, making the 
use of copper nails and screws necessary. The air roots are 
used as floats for fish nets and, being corky in texture, are 
