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Sonneratia alba

Scientific Name: Sonneratia alba

Family: Sonneratiaceae

Category: Dicot

Growth:

Duration:

Other Names:

       

Mangrove Apple (Sonneratia alba)

Sonneratia alba, commonly known as the Mangrove Apple or Perepat (Malay), is a widespread mangrove tree prized for its ecological role and distinctive features.

Considerations for Pets

  • The plant has small parts.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Sonneratia alba J. Smith (1816)
  • Common Names: Mangrove Apple, Perepat, Bedada, &#26479&#33852&#28023&#26705, Valko-omenamangrove, Nakshathrakandel
  • Family: Lythraceae (formerly Sonneratiaceae)
  • Kingdom: Plantae
  • Synonyms:
    • Blatti alba (Sm.) Kuntze
    • Chiratia leucantha Montrouzier
    • Sonneratia griffithii Watson (Unreviewed)
    • Sonneratia iriomotensis Masamune
    • Sonneratia mossambicensis Klotz
  • Basionym: Sonneratia alba Sm.

Distribution and Habitat

  • Sonneratia alba is widely distributed from East Africa (including Kenya, Seychelles, Madagascar) through India, Sri Lanka, and throughout Southeast Asia to Melanesia.
  • It thrives in intertidal zones, often at the seaward edge of mangrove forests.
  • In Singapore, some individuals are designated as Heritage Trees and can be found on Pulau Ubin.

Morphological Characteristics

  • This large and beautiful tree can grow up to 20 meters tall.
  • The bark is light grey and fissured.
  • Leaves are rounded, leathery, and arranged oppositely on the stem. They are obovate, ovate, or orbicular, with a rounded, broad tip and reflexed lamina measuring 5-11 cm long, with a petiole of 5-15 mm long.
  • Mature fruits feature a persistent star-shaped calyx.
  • The tree possesses thick, cone-shaped pneumatophores (specialized root structures that facilitate gas exchange). They also undergo secondary growth.

Ecological Role

  • Sonneratia alba is a mangrove species.

Quirky Facts

  • The specific epithet "alba" is derived from Latin, meaning "white," and refers to the color of the flowers.
  • The plant utilizes ultrafiltration at the root level to exclude salt.

Interactions with Other Organisms

  • Studies have investigated the antimicrobial properties of Sonneratia alba.
  • It is also documented as being infested by pests in Kenya, with studies aimed at identifying the taxonomic classification of these pests.

Further Information

  • Information can be found in the Encyclopedia of Life.