Rhizophoraceae

Plant Characteristics

Cultivation

Scientific Names

Read about Rhizophoraceae in the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture

Rhizophoraceae (from the genus Rhizophora, root-bearing, because of the numerous aerial roots). Mangrove Family. Fig. 43. Trees or shrubs: leaves usually opposite, coriaceous: flowers bisexual, epigynous or perigynous; sepals 3-14, more or less connate, valvate; petals of the same number, small, often lacerate; stamens 2-4 times as many, often in pairs opposite the petals; ovary inferior, usually 2-5-celled: fruit somewhat juicy, crowned with the calyx, rarely dehiscent, usually a berry, rarely a drupe. The 15 genera and about 50 species are distributed throughout the tropics. The family is related to the Combretaceae and Lythraceae; more distantly to the other families of the myrtaceous group. This is a small family of remarkable plants, mostly inhabiting mud-flats along the coast in the tropics. The stem soon perishes at the base and then the plant is supported by its numerous prop-roots alone. The mud is so soft that otherwise the plants could probably not remain erect. The genus Rhizophora is almost unique in the vegetable kingdom because the seeds germinate on the plant. The hypocotyl may reach the length of 3 feet, although usually less; it is club-shaped and heaviest at the apex, so that when the seedling eventually falls from the tree, it sticks in the mud vertically, with the hypocotyl down, ready to grow. The Rhizophoraceae are of little economic importance. Land is held in place and protected from the waves by the mangrove. The fruits of Anisophyllum are plum-like but poor. The mangrove grows wild on the Florida, Texas, and Mississippi coast, and has been offered for sale in California. CH The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.

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References

• Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture, by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963

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