66 MANGROVE SWAMPS 
silver grain. Logs and large timbers are liable to check badly; 
but if the wood is properly sawn and carefully stacked, it seasons 
with little warping and splitting. It is hard to saw, but not 
otherwise difficult to work. It lasts well in wet situations and 
is rarely attacked by insects. 
The wood is used for salt-water and foundation piling, mine 
timbers, house posts, furniture, and cabinet-work; if properly 
sawn and carefully seasoned, it would make an excellent flooring. 
On account of its shape, great strength, and durability when 
submerged in fresh water, it is specially recommended for sub- 
merged foundation piles. 
The pear-shaped fruit is brown, with a granular or roughened 
surface. The seedling is long, spindle-shaped, and green. It 
grows downward and out of the fruit before the latter falls from 
the tree. The surface of the seedling is very smooth, except 
for occasional dark-brown lenticels which project from the sur- 
face. The seedling grows to a length of 75 to 100 centimeters 
before dropping into the mud, where it promptly takes root. 
The maximum diameter attained by bakauan is about 60 centi- 
meters; exceptional trees sometimes have a clear length of 25 
meters. The average dimensions are, however, much smaller 
than the figures just given. Where there is an abundance of 
light, the bole is usually crooked, low branched, and practically 
worthless except for firewood. In the interior of the forest 
bakauan is fairly straight, round boled, and has a moderately 
spreading crown. 
The calyx is four-lobed. The petals are four in number, and 
slightly shorter than the calyx-lobes. 
The two species of Rhizophora are easily distinguished, either 
in flower or fruit. The inflorescence stalks of Rhizophora can- 
delaria are very short, being shorter than the petioles, occur 
below the leaves, and each bears two flowers. The inflorescence 
stalks of Rhizophora mucronata are among the leaves, as long 
as the petioles, and each bears from three to seven flowers. The 
fruits of the two species are easily separated by the length of 
the stalks. All of these characters are shown plainly in the 
illustrations of the species. 
Key to the species. 
Flowers below the leaves; inflorescences with two flowers; stalks of in- 
florescences shorter than the petioles................... Rhizophora candelaria. 
Flowers among the leaves; inflorescences with three to seven flowers; stalk 
of inflorescences as long as the petioles.................... Rhizophora mucronata. 
