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Bruguiera parviflora (Roxb.) Wight & Arn. ex Griff.
| Family Name: | Rhizophoraceae |
| Synonyms: | Bruguiera ritchiei Merr., Kanilia parviflora Blume, Rhizophora pauciflora Griff., Rhizophora parviflora Roxb. |
| Common Name: | Lenggadai, Lenggadis, Mengkadai |
Name
Classifications and Characteristics
| Plant Division | Angiosperms (Flowering Seed Plants) (Dicotyledon) |
|---|---|
| Plant Growth Form | Tree (Medium (16m-30m), Small (6m-15m)) |
| Lifespan (in Singapore) | Perennial |
| Mode of Nutrition | Autotrophic |
| Maximum Height | 15 m |
Biogeography
| Native Distribution | South East Asia, India, Bangladesh, Samoa, Australia and the Solomon Islands |
|---|---|
| Native Habitat | Shoreline (Mangrove Forest) |
| Preferred Climate Zone | Tropical, Sub-Tropical / Monsoonal |
| Local Conservation Status | Native to Singapore (Endangered (EN)) |
Description and Ethnobotany
| Growth Form | Slender tree, average height reaching 10 - 15 m |
|---|---|
| Trunk | Grey, fissured bark and slightly flanged base. |
| Roots | Laterals roots which grow just below the surface and part of it sticking out of the mud in a "bent knee" position. Knee roots may be up to 30 cm tall. |
| Foliage | Leaves pointed, 5.5 - 13 by 2 - 4.5 cm, elliptic, black dotted beneath and turning yellowish-green with age. |
| Flowers | Flower cluster consists of a 3 - 7, sometimes 10-flowered group. Calyx tubes are ridged, 7 - 9 mm long, 8-lobed, calyx lobes are straight and not curved. |
| Fruit | Narrow, spirally rolled fruit, about 2 cm in length. Hypocotyl is cylindrical, smooth and curved, about 9 - 14 cm in length. |
| Habitat | Found downstream to intermediate estuarine zones in the mid-intertidal region. Typically forms single species in areas that are not frequently inundated. Can also occur along tidal waterways and coastal fish ponds. Degradation of habitat threatened by construction of commercial and industrial purposes, such as shrimp farms and tourist resorts. |
| Associated Flora | Often associated with Rhizophora species. |
| Etymology | Latin Bruguiera, after J. G. Bruguieres (1750–1799), French expolorer. Latin parviflora referring to small flowers. |
| Ethnobotanical Uses | Timber & Products: Used as firewood and charcoal |
Landscaping Features
| Landscape Uses | Coastal, Riverine |
|---|
Fauna, Pollination and Dispersal
| Fauna Pollination Dispersal Associated Fauna | Butterfly-Attracting |
|---|---|
| Pollination Method(s) | Biotic (Fauna) (Insects (Butterfly, Moth), Insects (Ant, Beetle, Fly, Thrip, Wasp)) |
| Seed or Spore Dispersal | Abiotic (Water) |
Plant Care and Propagation
| Light Preference | Full Sun, Semi-Shade |
|---|---|
| Water Preference | Lots of Water |
| Plant Growth Rate | Moderate |
| Rootzone Tolerance | Moist Soils, Waterlogged Soils, Well-Drained Soils, Saline Soils / Salt Spray |
| Propagation Method | Viviparious Propagule |
| Plant Growth Rate Remarks | Slow growing |
Foliar
| Foliage Retention | Evergreen |
|---|---|
| Mature Foliage Colour(s) | Green |
| Foliar Type | Compound |
| Foliar Arrangement Along Stem | Opposite |
| Foliar Attachment to Stem | Petiolate |
| Foliar Shape(s) | Non-Palm Foliage (Elliptical) |
| Foliar Venation | Pinnate / Net |
| Foliar Margin | Entire |
Non - Foliar and Storage
| Mature Bark Texture | Fissured |
|---|---|
| Root Type | Underground (Tap Root), Aboveground (Knee Root) |
Floral (Angiosperm)
| Flower & Plant Sexuality | Bisexual Flowers |
| Flower Colour(s) | Yellow / Golden |
|---|---|
| Flower Grouping | Cluster / Inflorescence |
| Flower Location | Axillary |
| Flower Symmetry | Radial |
Fruit, Seed and Spore
| Mature Seed Colour(s) | Green |
|---|---|
| Mature Seed Texture(s) | Smooth |
| Seed Description | Thin, elongated, pencil-liked propagules |
Image Repository
Others
| Master ID | 31864 |
|---|---|
| Species ID | 6265 |
| Flora Disclaimer | The information in this website has been compiled from reliable sources, such as reference works on medicinal plants. It is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment and NParks does not purport to provide any medical advice. Readers should always consult his/her physician before using or consuming a plant for medicinal purposes. |
