SafePlants

Bruguiera: Mangroves of the Indo-West Pacific

The genus Bruguiera encompasses a group of fascinating mangrove trees belonging to the family Rhizophoraceae. These trees thrive in the intertidal zones of the Indian and western Pacific Ocean regions, playing a crucial role in coastal ecosystems.

Considerations for Pets

• The text mentions the bark being used for various purposes. If bark is accessible, there is the possibility of ingestion by pets.
• The presence of buttress roots and pneumatophores (aerial roots) might pose a tripping hazard for smaller pets.

Considerations for Children

• The presence of buttress roots and pneumatophores (aerial roots) might pose a tripping hazard for smaller children.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Bruguiera Savigny
• Family: Rhizophoraceae
• Taxonomic Rank: Genus
• Synonyms: Some synonyms include Bruguiera conjugata (L.)Merr., Rhizophora gymnorhiza Linn., Bruguiera capensis, Bruguiera cylindrica, and an alternate spelling Bruguiera gymnorhiza.

Species within the Genus

The genus Bruguiera includes several species, including:

• Bruguiera gymnorrhiza (Black Mangrove, Afrikaans: Swart-wortelboom, Xhosa: Isikhangati, Zulu: Isihlobane, Tumu (Malay))
• Bruguiera sexangula (Upriver Orange Mangrove)
• Bruguiera cylindrica (Bakau Putih (Malay))
• Bruguiera hainesii (Bakau mata buaya (Malay)) - formerly known as B. eriopetala

Distribution and Habitat

Bruguiera species are primarily found in the mangrove swamps of the Indian and western Pacific Ocean regions. Specific locations include:

• South Asia: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand.
• Southeast Asia to Australia.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

• Bruguiera trees can grow to varying heights, ranging from small trees (e.g., B. gymnorrhiza up to 10m) to larger trees (e.g., B. sexangula up to 15m, occasionally 30m).
• They possess buttress roots at the base and often have numerous upright pneumatophores (aerial roots) for gas exchange.
• The bark can be brown or black, becoming deeply fissured with age, and features large corky lenticels on buttresses and stems.
• Leaves are typically elliptic with an acute lamina, ranging from 4-13 cm long and 2.5-4 cm wide, with a petiole 1.5-2 cm long.
• Unlike some mangroves, Bruguiera does not easily regenerate from branch cuttings; new growth only appears from branch tips.

Ecological Role

• Mangroves are considered among the most fascinating of all habitats.

Uses

• Bruguiera wood chips are exported in large quantities from Indonesia, Sabah, and Sarawak for pulp and rayon manufacture.
• The bark of Bruguiera cylindrica has traditional uses (details not specified).
• Bruguiera gymnorrhiza has been explored as an alternative food source to rice.

Genetic and Cytological Information

• Molecular phylogenetic relationships among Bruguiera species have been studied using chromosome and RAPD markers.
• Research has been conducted on the 4C DNA content and karyotype of Bruguiera species.
• Specific miRNAs (e.g., bgy-MIR156) have been identified in Bruguiera gymnorhiza.

Quirky Facts

• Bruguiera gymnorrhiza was spelled Bruguiera gymnorhiza (single 'r') until the turn of the millennium.

Further Information

• ResearchGate features publications on Bruguiera gymnorrhiza.
• The Plant List provides taxonomic information on the genus.
• ARKive (now closed) had photos and facts on mangroves.