SafePlants

Grey Mangrove (Avicennia marina)

Avicennia marina, commonly known as grey mangrove or white mangrove, is a species of mangrove tree.

Considerations for Pets

• This species is known to excrete salt from special leaf glands.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Avicennia marina
• Common Names: Grey mangrove, white mangrove
• Family: Acanthaceae (formerly mentioned as another family)
• Synonyms/Subspecies: Avicennia marina (Forssk.) Vierh. var. resinifera (G. Forst.) Bakh.

Distribution and Habitat

• Found in South Asia including Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, and Malaysia.
• Also found in Victoria and South Australia, though its distribution is limited there to only one species, Avicennia marina.
• Common in the mangrove forests of Hays Inlet.
• Often dominates the seaward side of plant communities due to its adaptation to early successional conditions.
• Also found along the Red Sea coast and in established mangrove forests of the Arabian Peninsula.
• In Florida, it is located further inland, on more elevated sites.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

• Grows as a shrub or tree, typically reaching 3 to 10 meters in height, but can grow up to 14 meters in tropical regions.
• Exhibits a gnarled arrangement of multiple trunks.
• Has green oval leaves.
• Possesses aerial roots that protrude from the mud.
• Bark is grey and lightly fissured.
• Has a well-defined trunk.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• Juvenile gray snapper are found inshore in tidal creeks, mangroves, and grass beds associated with this plant.

Further Information

• Illustrations provided with permission of the Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust (http://plantnet.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au/).
• Learn more about the Gray mangrove on ARKive.