spurred mangrove

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• spurred mangrove
• rib-fruited yellow mangrove

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Ceriops timoriensis
• Bruguiera timoriensis
• Ceriops forsteniana
• Rhizophora tagal
• Ceriops globulifera
• Bruguiera arnottiana
• Ceriops lucida
• Rhizophora timoriensis
• Ceriops mossambicensis
• Ceriops candolleana var. sasakii
• Ceriops pauciflora
• Ceriops candolleana var. spathulata
• Ceriops somalensis
• Ceriops lucida var. latifolia
• Ceriops lucida var. subspathulata
• Ceriops timoriensis
• Ceriops boviniana

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. Following the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized under the order Malpighiales and the family Rhizophoraceae. Finally, it is identified by its specific genus, Ceriops, as part of the species Ceriops tagal.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad distribution across several key regions of the African continent. In Northeast Tropical Africa, it can be found growing in Djibouti and Somalia. Its range extends further into East Tropical Africa, where it is located in Kenya and Tanzania. Additionally, the species reaches into South Tropical Africa, specifically inhabiting Mozambique. Collectively, these locations highlight its presence within various tropical African ecosystems.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Ceriops tagal is characterized by its specialization within halophytic vegetation, where it thrives in high-salinity environments typically found in coastal ecosystems. It is specifically adapted to the harsh conditions of mangrove forests, occupying niches where salt tolerance is a critical survival requirement. This species maintains a very low elevational profile, with its distribution reaching a maximum elevation of only 1 m AMSL (meters Above Mean Sea Level), positioning it firmly within the intertidal zones. This low-lying habitat exposes the plant to regular tidal inundation and fluctuating salinity levels, defining its role as a fundamental component of the coastal maritime landscape.

Elevational range max:

1 m AMSL

Habitat :

halophytic vegetation

Life history

The life history of Ceriops tagal is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist in mangrove ecosystems for many years. As a long-lived species, it maintains a stable presence within its habitat through a complex reproductive strategy involving vivipary. The development begins when the embryo germinates while still attached to the parent plant, forming a specialized propagule. Once these propagules reach a sufficient size and detach, they drop into the substrate or float with tidal currents to colonize new areas. This perennial nature ensures that the species can withstand the environmental fluctuations of intertidal zones, establishing a continuous and enduring structural component of the mangrove community.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Ceriops tagal is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree that functions as a self-supporting structure rather than a climber or liana. It is an independent plant, meaning it does not exhibit parasitic behavior, and it is strictly terrestrial in its habitat rather than being aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic. In terms of stature, the plant exhibits significant variability in height, ranging from a minimum of 1.2 m to a maximum of 15 m, with an average plant height of approximately 4.25 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

15 m

Plant height mean:

4.25 m

Plant height min:

1.2 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Ceriops tagal is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant's leaf morphology exhibits specific dimensional variations, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 4 cm to a mean of 5.5 cm, reaching a maximum of 7 cm. Complementing these length variations, the leaf width fluctuates between a minimum of 2 cm and a maximum of 3 cm, maintaining an overall mean width of 2.5 cm. Furthermore, regarding its nutrient cycling capabilities, the species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on external soil nitrogen sources rather than symbiotic nitrogen-fixing processes.

Leaf length max:

7 cm

Leaf length mean:

5.5 cm

Leaf length min:

4 cm

Leaf width max:

3 cm

Leaf width mean:

2.5 cm

Leaf width min:

2 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Ceriops tagal is characterized by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily relying on insects to facilitate the transfer of pollen. Following successful fertilization, the plant produces fruits that typically measure an average of 1.25 cm in length, with individual fruit sizes ranging from a minimum of 1 cm to a maximum of 1.5 cm. The seeds produced during this process exhibit significant variation in mass; while the average seed mass is 3.025 g, individual seeds can be as light as 1.4 g or as heavy as 4.65 g. Once mature, the dispersal of these seeds follows a hydrochorous syndrome, utilizing water currents to transport the offspring to new habitats.

Dispersal syndrome :

hydrochorous

Fruit length max:

1.5 cm

Fruit length mean:

1.25 cm

Fruit length min:

1 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed mass max:

4.65 g

Seed mass mean:

3.025 g

Seed mass min:

1.4 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Ceriops tagal 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 leaf, fruit, stem.

Leaf

1. PloS one
2. Natural product research

Fruit

1. Journal of natural products

Stem

1. Natural product research

Chemicals

Ceriops tagal has 22 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include (5R,7S)-5,7-dihydroxy-2-[(E)-prop-1-en-1-yl]-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-4H-chromen-4-one, (5R,7S)-5,7-dihydroxy-2-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-4H-chromen-4-one, (5R,7S)-5,7-dihydroxy-2-propyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-4H-chromen-4-one, 2,3,6-Trimethoxy-5-(1-propenyl)phenol, 5-hydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)-8-methoxy-4H-chromen-4-one.

(5R,7S)-5,7-dihydroxy-2-[(E)-prop-1-en-1-yl]-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-4H-chromen-4-one

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

(5R,7S)-5,7-dihydroxy-2-methyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-4H-chromen-4-one

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

(5R,7S)-5,7-dihydroxy-2-propyl-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-4H-chromen-4-one

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

2,3,6-Trimethoxy-5-(1-propenyl)phenol

1. Natural product research

5-hydroxy-2-(hydroxymethyl)-8-methoxy-4H-chromen-4-one

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

5-hydroxy-2-methyl-4H-chromen-4-one

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Benzamide

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Betulin

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Betulonic acid

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Betunal

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Conditions

Ceriops tagal has 1 reported investigations on conditions identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include antihyperglycemic.

Antihyperglycemic

1. Natural product research

Preparations

Ceriops tagal has 7 reported preparations identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include ethanolic extract, 95% ethanol, Petroleum ether extract of the aerial parts of the plant (CTP), Tannins from the leaves, ethanolic extracts.

Ethanolic extract

1. Chemistry & biodiversity
2. Natural product research

95% ethanol

1. Natural product research

Petroleum ether extract of the aerial parts of the plant (ctp)

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Tannins from the leaves

1. PloS one

Ethanolic extracts

1. Natural product research

Insoluble (ctpm-in-2) fractions

1. Chemistry & biodiversity

Petroleum ether soluble (ctp-s) fractions

1. Chemistry & biodiversity