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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.