Lumnitzera racemosa

Common Name: black mangrove

Family: Combretaceae

Common Synonyms: none

USDA Hardiness Zone: 11

Growth Habit: Tree

Origin: Asia, Australia

FISC Category: 1

FDACS Listed Noxious Weed: No

Introduction Date: 1966

IFAS Assessment:

• North: INVASIVE
• Central: INVASIVE
• South: INVASIVE

Description

Evergreen, erect and much-branched tree up to 10 m tall. Above-ground breathing roots normally absent but small looping lateral roots may develop in moist environments. Bark gray, fissured longitudinally in older trees. Leaves simple, alternate, 3-7 cm long and 2-3 cm wide, succulent, obovate in shape with an indent in the tip, leaf margin is slightly wavy. Inflorescence an axillary spike, 2 to 3 cm long. Flowers small, erect with green tube-like calyx, divided into five lobes at the tip, petals five, white, stamens ten, arranged in two whorls. Fruit vase-shaped, 1 to 2 cm long, yellowish green, glossy, corky. Seed single in each fruit, oblong ovoid.

Habitat

Mangrove swamp

Comments

An Indo-West Pacific mangrove which has naturalized in the area of Fairchild Botanic Garden. EDRR efforts have been ongoing for this species for several years. Looks similar to our white mangrove (Laguncularia racemosa), which is opposite leaved. Has same common name as our native black mangrove (Avicennia germinans).

Control Methods

• Manual: Mechanical: Removal by uprooting plants.
• Chemical: Foliar (0.5-2% glyphosate). [FTG]
• Biological: NA

Control Notes

NA

References

Selvam, V. 2007. Trees and Shrubs of the Maldives. RAP Publication No. 2007/12. ftp://ftp.fao.org/docrep/fao/010/ai387e07.pdf. Accessed on December 12, 2013.

Possley, J. 2011. Update on Lumnitzera racemosa. Center for Tropical Plant Conservation. Fairchild Tropical Garden, Miami, Florida. http://www.evergladescisma.org/summit11/3_LumnitzUpdate2011.pdf. Accessed on December 12, 2013.