Bruguiera gymnorhiza
English: black mangrove.
Source: Lamu provings.
DD: Oxygen, Natrum, Muriaticum, Iodatum.
Range: east Africa through Asia to Australia and the Pacific Islands.
Habitat: tropical mangrove swamps; landward side of mangroves, on somewhat dry, well-aerated soil; elevations below 50 metres; brackish or saline silts shores and marshes; shade tolerant.
Use: bark for tannins and dyes; fruits as a vegetable; tree for coastal protection and stabilization of the soil; leaves and peeled hypocotyls are eaten in times of scarcity; bark as a condiment.
Botany
Evergreen tree; 8 - 25 metres tall, occasionally 36 metres.
Stem: straight; 16cm in diameter.
Flowers: flowering abundantly in the rainy season.
Fruit: seedlings can remain alive, floating in the water, for 5 - 6 months;seeds are viviparous which means life-bearing, so the seeds are alive, like an embryo.