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Ceriops tagal
Scientific Name: Ceriops tagal
Family: Rhizophoraceae
Category: Dicot
Growth:
Duration:
Other Names:
Ceriops tagal: A Detailed Look
Ceriops tagal, commonly known as Tengar, Indian Mangrove, Yellow Mangrove, or Kirkiri, is a mangrove tree species belonging to the family Rhizophoraceae. This tree is protected in South Africa and plays a crucial role in coastal ecosystems.
Considerations for Pets
- Sap/Substances: Some sources mention that Ceriops tagal has been used as a folk remedy, specifically the shoot decoction. While this suggests potential medicinal properties, it's important to be aware that ingestion by pets could have unintended consequences.
Taxonomy and Nomenclature
- Scientific Name: Ceriops tagal (Perr.) C.B. Robinson
- Family: Rhizophoraceae
- Phylum/Division: Magnoliophyta
- Class: Eudicots
- Order: Malpighiales
- Synonyms: The text lists several synonyms and variations, including:
- Ceriops candolleana var. sasakii Hayata
- Ceriops candolleana var. spathulata Blume
- Ceriops somalensis Chiovenda
- Ceriops tagal var. australis White
- Ceriops australis (C.T. White) Ballment, T.J.Sm. & J.A.Stoddart
- Rhizophora tagal Perrottet
- Ceriops candolleana
Distribution and Habitat
Ceriops tagal is widespread, found along coasts from eastern Africa and the Indian Ocean islands to the Indian subcontinent, extending to Asia and Australia. Specific locations mentioned include:
- Bangladesh
- Brunei Darussalam
- China
- Taiwan
- India (including Nicobar and Andaman Islands)
- Eastern Africa
- Maharashtra coast in India
- Port Douglas, Queensland, Australia
It typically grows on the side of mangrove formations below the high-water mark, sometimes extending up to a mile inland in creeks, and is predominantly found in saline environments.
Morphological Characteristics
- Shrub or tree, typically 2-15 meters in height.
- Often features buttresses or small stilt roots; knee roots are occasionally present.
- Bark is brownish, sometimes papery in texture. The bark is also described as dark red.
- Leaves are obovate to thick, rounded-tipped, and sometimes described as having a "plasticky" feel. They reportedly break with a crackling sound.
Uses and Traditional Knowledge
Ceriops tagal has documented uses. It is reported to be astringent and hemostatic. In folk medicine, the tagal mangrove is a remedy for malaria and sores. The wood is used for timber, valued for its resistance to rot and wood-boring organisms. It is also used as fuel and for building purposes.
Interactions with Other Organisms
The text mentions studies involving the roots of Ceriops tagal to obtain structurally interesting compounds and diterpenes. Further investigation has been done regarding the anticancer activity of tagalsins isolated from its roots.
Quirky Facts
- One source notes that the leaves of Ceriops tagal "break with a crackling sound."
- The mangrove can be culturally associated with "man grows" sexually, in the womb, and also linked to fairy tales.
Further Information
Additional information can be found at:
- Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN) database.
- International Plant Names Index.
- Interim Register of Marine and Nonmarine Genera.
- World Agroforestry Centre.
- Flora of China