Looking-Glass Mangrove – heritiera littoralis
Heritiera littoralis or looking-glass mangrove is a member of the Sterculiaceae family, genus Heritiera, a low growing mangrove tree, up to 25 m in height, but generally smaller. It is found in the warmer seashores of the Indian and Pacific Oceans in areas where there is significant freshwater influence.
Leaves of Heritiera littoralis are large, rounded, dark green on upper side and very white to silvery underneath; caused by the presence of epidermal scales generally 20 by 8cm long. Flowers are green, unisexual, regular and small. They are produced in hanging yellowish tassels;
Fruits of H. littoralis are wing formed (elliptical), woody nuts about 6 cm long and 4 cm wide. It is the only mangrove tree in East-Africa that develops a fruit with a woody exocarp. Very distinctive is the “keel” on them.
The nuts are shiny brown, consumed with fish but are somewhat poisonous so it is essential first be processed by soaking in cold water. They also have been utilized as a cola replacement. In the Philippines the roots of the tree are used as fish poison.
The fruits of the looking-glass mangrove float in water, with the ridge upwardly and the nuts sprout without much delay in boggy substrates.
looking-glass mangrove, heritiera littoralis
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