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Common name: River Mangrove, Halsi (Hindi), Kajala काजला (Marathi), Guggilam (Telugu), Kamdlam (Konkani), Narikandam (Tamil), Narikkandal (Malayalam)
Botanical name: Aegiceras corniculatum Family: Myrsinaceae (myrsine family)
This is one of the most common mangrove plants. These plants often grow
together to form a thicket that can be up to 4 m tall. It has no obvious
above-ground roots. The leaves are oval and about 7 cm long. There are glands
on the leaves for secreting salt. The flowers are small, white, arranged in
bunches and smell like rotten bananas. The propagules are up to 5 cm long,
pencil thick, slightly curved and have a pointed tip. The end of the fruit
that is attached to the tree has a spiral patterned cap. The fruits are green,
ripening to red in the summer months. Found on river banks over a wide range
of salinities. This mangrove hails from India to New Guinea and
Australia.
| Photographed in Alibag, Maharshtra |
Identification credit: Pravin Kawale
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