1476

 Rhizophora mucronata Lam.  

Synonym	:	Mangium candelarium Rumphius  .
Family	:	Rhizophoraceae
Local name	:	English-Asiatic mangrove Malayalam-  Panachikandal
Flowering and fruiting period	:	April-October
Distribution	:	Paleotropics
Distribution in Kerala	:	All most all districts .
Habitat	:	Estuaries, tidal creeks and flat coastal areas subject to daily tidal flooding.
IUCN Status	:	Least Concern
Uses	:	It is used to help prevent coastal erosion and in restoration of mangrove habitats. The timber is used for firewood and in the construction of buildings, as poles and pilings, and in making fish traps.
Key botanical characters:  Evergreen trees,  Leaves simple, opposite decussate, stipulate, clustered at the shoot apex; stipules 2, interpetiolar, Flowers bisexual, yellowish-white,  , glabrous; petals , white, lanceolate, densely hairy along the margins, hairs white, uniseriate; stamens 8, free, inserted on the margin of the receptacular disc; . Fruit a drupe.