red mangrove

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• red mangrove
• small stilted mangrove
• stilt-root mangrove
• Indo-West Pacific stilt mangrove
• long-style stilt mangrove
• spotted mangrove
• stilt mangrove

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Rhizophora mucronata var. stylosa

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known scientifically as Rhizophora stylosa, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. It is classified under the class Equisetopsida and the subclass Magnoliidae, falling within the order Malpighiales. Finally, it is a member of the family Rhizophoraceae and the genus Rhizophora.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is widely distributed across several distinct regions within the tropical and subtropical zones of Asia. In China, its presence is specifically noted in Hainan and throughout China Southeast. The species also extends into Eastern Asia, particularly within the Nansei-shoto islands. Moving toward the Indian Subcontinent, it can be found inhabiting the coastal areas of India. Finally, its range includes the Indo-China region, specifically covering the Andaman Is.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Rhizophora stylosa is defined by its specialized role within halophytic vegetation, where it thrives in the harsh, saline environments of intertidal zones. As a quintessential component of mangrove ecosystems, it is evolutionarily adapted to withstand high salt concentrations and fluctuating water levels. This species occupies the seaward fringe of mangrove forests, anchoring itself in soft, anaerobic muddy substrates that are frequently inundated by tidal cycles. To survive in such nutrient-poor and oxygen-deficient soils, the plant utilizes complex physiological mechanisms to manage salinity and develops specialized prop roots that provide structural stability against wave action and tidal currents. Through its presence in these halophytic communities, Rhizophora stylosa plays a critical ecological role in coastal stabilization, sediment trapping, and providing complex nursery habitats for a diverse array of marine and terrestrial organisms.

Habitat :

halophytic vegetation

Life history

The life history of Rhizophora stylosa is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to establish long-term dominance within intertidal mangrove ecosystems. Its biological cycle is defined by a specialized reproductive strategy known as vivipary, where the embryo germinates while still attached to the parent plant. This process results in the development of a long, viviparous propagule that eventually detaches to drop into the substrate or float with tidal currents to colonize new areas. Once a propagule finds suitable anaerobic mud, it quickly develops specialized stilt roots that provide structural stability and facilitate gas exchange in waterlogged soils. As a perennial, the plant undergoes continuous growth, expanding its complex root systems and canopy over many years, ensuring its persistence through fluctuating tidal cycles and varying salinity levels.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Rhizophora stylosa is characterized by its growth form as a woody tree that functions as a self-supporting organism. As an independent species, it does not exhibit parasitic or epiphytic behavior, maintaining a terrestrial lifestyle rather than being aquatic or semi-aquatic. The plant exhibits significant vertical development, with a height that typically ranges from a minimum of 1.5 m to a maximum of 20 m, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 15 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

20 m

Plant height mean:

15 m

Plant height min:

1.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Rhizophora stylosa is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, reflecting its metabolic adaptation to its specific environment. The foliage exhibits significant morphological variation, with leaf lengths typically ranging from a minimum of 6 cm to a mean of 8.75 cm, reaching a maximum of 14 cm. The width of the leaves also shows a notable range, with a minimum of 3 cm, a mean of 3.5 cm, and a maximum dimension of 8 cm. Despite its specialized habitat, the plant does not exhibit succulence and does not function as a nitrogen fixer.

Leaf length max:

14 cm

Leaf length mean:

8.75 cm

Leaf length min:

6 cm

Leaf width max:

8 cm

Leaf width mean:

3.5 cm

Leaf width min:

3 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Rhizophora stylosa is characterized by a specialized dispersal strategy and specific fruit morphology. The plant primarily utilizes a hydrochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on water currents to transport its offspring, though it is noted within a broader spectrum of potential dispersal modes including anemochorous, zoochorous, autochorous, and unspecialized mechanisms. The fruits produced are relatively uniform in size, with a mean length of 2.75 cm (ranging from a minimum of 2.5 cm to a maximum of 3 cm) and a mean width of 2.15 cm (ranging from a minimum of 1.8 cm to a maximum of 2.5 cm). Complementing these dimensions, the seed mass is substantial, maintaining a mean weight of 32.835 g, with individual seeds falling between a minimum of 30.3 g and a maximum of 35.37 g.

Dispersal syndrome :

hydrochorous

Fruit length max:

3 cm

Fruit length mean:

2.75 cm

Fruit length min:

2.5 cm

Fruit width max:

2.5 cm

Fruit width mean:

2.15 cm

Fruit width min:

1.8 cm

Seed mass max:

35.37 g

Seed mass mean:

32.835 g

Seed mass min:

30.3 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Rhizophora stylosa has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Saponins, Steroids, Tannins, Terpenoids.

Flavonoids

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Saponins

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Steroids

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Tannins

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Terpenoids

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Activities

Rhizophora stylosa has 3 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antioxidant, Antipyretic.

Antibacterial

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antioxidant

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Antipyretic

1. Plants (Basel, Switzerland)

Medicinal Uses

Rhizophora stylosa has 2 reported medicinal uses identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include antioxidant, antipyretic.

Most Reported Uses