Aegiceras corniculatum
river mangrove
Northern and eastern Australia; Indo-West Pacific
Overview
Aegiceras corniculatum is an evergreen mangrove shrub or small tree reaching 6-20 feet (2-6 m) tall and 5-13 feet (1.5-4 m) wide, with a bushy, much-branched habit. Leaves are alternate, obovate, 1.2-4 inches (3-10 cm) long, leathery, glossy dark green above and paler beneath, often dotted with salt crystals excreted through glands. Clusters of white star-shaped flowers about 0.4 inch (10 mm) across form rounded umbels at the branch tips and carry a sweet scent. Flowering occurs mainly in late winter and spring. The fruit is a curved, horn-shaped capsule 1.2-3 inches (3-7.5 cm) long, pinkish to reddish, in which the seed germinates while still attached to the parent. Growth is slow to moderate. The species grows in tidal mud and tolerates regular saltwater inundation, but it needs waterlogged saline or brackish soil and does not grow in ordinary garden conditions.
Native Range
Native to estuaries and tidal river margins of northern and eastern Australia, and widespread through coastal South and Southeast Asia to the western Pacific. Grows in the landward and mid-zones of mangrove forest on soft tidal mud in brackish to saline water, at sea level.Suggested Uses
Used in mangrove restoration, estuary stabilization, and coastal habitat plantings on tidal mudflats, spaced 3-6 feet (0.9-1.8 m) apart. The dense root system traps sediment and shelters fish and crustaceans. Its strict need for tidal saline conditions rules out general garden, container, or inland use.How to Identify
Appearance
Size & Dimensions
Height6' - 20'
Width/Spread5' - 13'
Reaches mature size in approximately 6 years
Bloom Information
Flowers mainly in late winter and spring, August to November in Australia, with timing varying across its tropical range. The scented flowers open over 4-6 weeks and draw bees. Horn-shaped fruit develops through summer and may hang on the branches for several months before dropping.
Detailed Descriptions
Foliage Description
Glossy dark greenGrowing Conditions
Sun Requirements
Requires 6-12 hours of direct sunlight daily
• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight
• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight
• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight