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Laguncularia racemosa
Laguncularia racemosa (L.) C.F. Gaertn.
White Mangrove
Combretaceae (Indian Almond Family)
Synonym(s): Conocarpus racemosa
USDA Symbol: LARA2
USDA Native Status: L48 (N), PR (N), VI (N)
A shrub or tree, 30 - 65 ft. in height with thick, opposite, leathery, oval leaves, narrow rounded crown; trunk short, crooked, often with “knees”; thicket-forming. Short, branched spikes of white flowers are followed by red fruits.
The ecology of mangrove swamps closely parallels that of salt marshes: Salt-tolerant mangroves extend out from protected shores, trapping detritus and stabilizing land as they spread. As with marshes, the daily flushing and replenishment of the tides is critical to the swamps’ survival. Mangroves limit their internal salt concentration by screening out salt as they absorb water and/or by excreting it through specialized glands in their leaves. Though mangroves can survive in fresh water, they generally cannot compete with hardier plants that grow there.
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Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Tree
Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Fruit Type: Drupe
Size Notes: Up to about 65 feet tall.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: WhiteBloom Time: Jan , Feb , Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct , Nov , Dec
Distribution
USA: FLNative Distribution: S. & c. FL
Native Habitat: Brackish, tidal swamp edges at the highest ground of mangrove thickets
Growing Conditions
Light Requirement: Part ShadeSoil Moisture: Wet
Soil Description: Wet, brackish soils.
Conditions Comments: This species produces an abundance of roots that bind soil well and could abate canal bank erosion. It is also suited to trimming and shaping and is salt-tolerant.
Propagation
Description: Propagation from seed is quite simple.Commercially Avail: yes
National Wetland Indicator Status
Region: | AGCP | AK | AW | CB | EMP | GP | HI | MW | NCNE | WMVE |
Status: | OBL | OBL | FACW |
Web Reference
Webref 3 - Flora of North America (2014) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter
Additional resources
USDA: Find Laguncularia racemosa in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Laguncularia racemosa in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Laguncularia racemosa
Metadata
Record Modified: 2023-03-21Research By: TWC Staff