black mangrove

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• black mangrove
• river mangrove

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Umbraculum corniculatum
• Aegiceras fragrans
• Aegiceras obovatum
• Rhizophora aegiceras
• Rhizophora corniculata
• Malaspinaea laurifolia
• Aegiceras majus
• Aegiceras malaspinaea
• Aegiceras obcordatum

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized under the order Ericales and the family Primulaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Aegiceras, specifically as the species Aegiceras corniculatum.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across several key regions in Asia. In China, its presence is noted specifically in Hainan as well as throughout China Southeast. Moving toward the Indian Subcontinent, the species is found growing in Bangladesh. It also has a significant range within India, where it is commonly documented. Finally, the distribution extends further west to include parts of Pakistan.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Aegiceras corniculatum is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to maintain a long-term presence within its ecological niche. Throughout its existence, the plant maintains an evergreen habit, ensuring that its foliage remains functional and present across various seasons rather than undergoing a period of dormancy through leaf shedding. This combination of a perennial lifecycle and evergreen deciduousness enables the plant to sustain continuous physiological processes and contribute to the stability of its habitat over many years.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Aegiceras corniculatum is characterized by its growth form as a woody shrub that is fundamentally self-supporting rather than acting as a climber or liana. As a terrestrial plant, it is neither an epiphyte nor a parasite, maintaining an independent existence in its habitat. The plant exhibits significant variation in stature, with a height that can range from a minimum of 1.5 m to a maximum of 7 m, resulting in an average plant height of approximately 3.125 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

7 m

Plant height mean:

3.125 m

Plant height min:

1.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Aegiceras corniculatum is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which governs its carbon fixation processes and energy production. The plant's vegetative morphology is defined by specific leaf dimensions, where the leaf length typically ranges from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 10 cm, with a mean length of approximately 6.5 cm. In terms of leaf width, the dimensions vary from a minimum of 1.5 cm to a maximum of 5 cm. Furthermore, this species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it lacks the specialized symbiotic relationship or physiological mechanism required to convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form for its growth.

Leaf length max:

10 cm

Leaf length mean:

6.5 cm

Leaf length min:

3 cm

Leaf width max:

5 cm

Leaf width min:

1.5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

Reproduction in Aegiceras corniculatum is characterized by the production of distinct fruits and seeds optimized for specific environmental dispersal. The plant produces fruits that maintain a consistent dimension, with a mean, minimum, and maximum fruit length all measured at 6 cm. Within these fruits, the seeds exhibit a highly uniform mass, with the mean, minimum, and maximum values all recorded at 0.51 g. The dispersal strategy of the species is primarily hydrochorous, utilizing water currents to transport its progeny, although it may also involve elements of anemochory, zoochory, autochory, or unspecialized dispersal mechanisms.

Dispersal syndrome :

hydrochorous

Fruit length max:

6 cm

Seed mass mean:

0.51 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Aegiceras corniculatum has 3 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include stem, fruit, leaf.

Stem

1. Journal of natural products
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Fruit

1. Journal of natural medicines

Leaf

1. Journal of advanced pharmaceutical technology & research

Chemicals

Aegiceras corniculatum has 12 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include 10-Hydroxy-4-O-methyl-2,11-diundecylgomphilactone, 2,7-Dihydroxy-8-methoxy-3,6-diundecyldibenzofuran-1,4-dione, 2,8-Dihydroxy-7-methoxy-3,9-diundecyldibenzofuran-1,4-dione, 2-Methoxy-3-nonylresorcinol, 2-O-Acetyl-5-O-methylembelin.

10-Hydroxy-4-O-methyl-2,11-diundecylgomphilactone

1. Journal of natural products

2,7-Dihydroxy-8-methoxy-3,6-diundecyldibenzofuran-1,4-dione

1. Journal of natural products

2,8-Dihydroxy-7-methoxy-3,9-diundecyldibenzofuran-1,4-dione

1. Journal of natural products

2-Methoxy-3-nonylresorcinol

1. Journal of natural products

2-O-Acetyl-5-O-methylembelin

1. Journal of natural products

3,7-Dihydroxy-2,5-diundecylnaphthoquinone

1. Journal of natural products

3-undecylresorcinol

1. Journal of natural products

5-O-Ethylembelin

1. Journal of natural products

5-O-Methylembelin

1. Journal of natural products

ETHYL ACETATE

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Conditions

Aegiceras corniculatum has 5 reported investigations on conditions identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include breast cancer, colon cancer, gastric cancer, inflammation, rheumatism.

Breast cancer

1. Journal of natural medicines

Colon cancer

1. Journal of natural medicines

Gastric cancer

1. Journal of natural medicines

Inflammation

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Rheumatism

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Aegiceras corniculatum has 6 reported preparations identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include aqueous extracts, ethyl acetate extract, fruit extracts, leaf suspension, methanolic extract.

Aqueous extracts

1. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM

Ethyl acetate extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Fruit extracts

1. Journal of natural medicines

Leaf suspension

1. Journal of advanced pharmaceutical technology & research

Methanolic extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

N-hexane extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology