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- 

 pliora 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, pi. 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. 



