60 MANGROVE SWAMPS 
The petals are the same in number as the calyx-lobes but shorter. 
They are yellow with a dark brown border at the tip. They are 
two-lobed and each bears three or four hairs, while a single hair 
is found between two lobes; otherwise the petals are smooth. 
The stamens are sixteen in number and of unequal size; two 
are embraced by each petal. 
Genus CERIOPS 
The two species of Ceriops, C. tagal and C. roxburghiana, are 
known as tangal. They are separated only by very minute floral 
characters. Tangal is a small tree with rather smooth, light 
gray or brown bark, which is perforated in many places by dark- 
colored lenticels. Below the outer corky layer, there is more or 
less orange color. The bark contains a high percentage of tan- 
nin. The trunk flares at the base. A short distance from the 
trunk some of the roots bend upward to form small knees. 
The sapwood is small in amount and scarcely distinct from 
the heartwood. The heartwood is very hard and heavy, orange 
red, changing on exposure to reddish brown. It gives an irides- 
cent orange-red color to water. The grain is straight and the 
texture fine and dense, taking a smooth, almost polished surface 
under sharp tools. It does not check badly, but is somewhat 
liable to warp in seasoning and is not difficult to work except for 
its hardness. The wood is used for much the same purposes as 
that of Rhizophora. 
The leaves are leathery in texture, opposite, and wider toward 
the apex than near the base. They are notched at the apex. The 
flowers are small and light greenish yellow. The calyx has five 
or six lobes. The petals, five or six in number, are inserted at 
the base of a ten- to twelve-lobed fleshy disk. There are ten to 
twelve stamens, whose stalks are inserted between the lobes of 
the disk. The style is short and the stigma simple. The seed- 
lings are angled in cross section and may reach a length of about 
35 centimeters before falling from the tree. 
Tangal is found near the mouths of tidal streams. Full-grown 
trees are from 15 to 40 centimeters in diameter and from 8 to 
11 meters in height. 
Key to the species. 
Flowers few on an inflorescence, each with a short stalk; apex of petals 
with three to four club-shaped appendages............................ Ceriops tagal. 
Flowers few on an inflorescence, without individual stalks; apex of petals 
lacerate, that is with a torn appearance................ Ceriops roxburghiana. 
CERIOPS TAGAL (Perr.) C. B. Rob. TANGAL. 
Local names: Tangdl (Tagalog, Bisaya, Zambales, and Zamboanga) ; 
tungod (Bisaya in Negros); tavghdl (Mindoro); magtongéd (Mindoro) ; 
