Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Mangrove Trees
“Mangrove” is the common name for over 100 species of mostly unrelated trees and shrubs that in-
habit and help colonize coastlines in many parts of the tropical and subtropical world. What they all
have in common is the ability to live in the salt and brackish waters where freshwater rivers and es-
tuaries meet the sea. Although the various families and genera are quite diverse, several of the more
popular species are referred to as “black,” “white” and “red” mangroves. Even those simple terms en-
compass over 40 disinct species.
“Looking-glass” Mangrove
Known in Japanese as Sakishima-suo-no-ki, the Lain botanical name is
Heriiera litoralis
. They can be
found from tropical East Africa to Southern India to Southeast Asia. Not a common species anywhere,
their taxonomic status is quite complex. They are only very distantly related to true man-groves. Their
someimes enormous butress roots were used by early Iriomote inhabitants for ship rudders. Al-
though the trees appear extremely stable, they are, in fact, extremely shallow-rooted and are some-
imes blown over in typhoons. Only their great above-ground roots protect them from this happening
more frequently.
