Oriental mangrove seedlings (Bruguiera gymnorhiza)
 
Type : Seedlings
Quantity : 2 Seedlings
 
 
Common Names: Tumu Merah, Tumu, Large-Leafed Orange Mangrove, Bakau Besar
Family: Rhizophoraceae
Native Distribution: This species thrives in coastal regions across Southeast Asia and parts of Africa.
 
 
Classification and Characteristics
Growth Form:
Bruguiera gymnorhiza is a medium-sized tree, typically reaching up to 20 meters in height. It features a conical to columnar shape, making it a prominent presence in its habitat.
Bark and Roots:
The bark is dark grey to brown, rough in texture, and marked by distinct lenticels. The tree is buttressed at its base, with kneed roots that protrude above the substrate, enhancing its stability in tidal zones.
 
Foliage:
Leaves are opposite, long-stalked, and have a leathery texture. The leaf blades range from oval to lance-shaped, measuring 9–24 by 4–9 cm, with a dark green upper surface and light green underside.
 
Flowers:
Pendulous flowers grow singly on short stalks at the leaf axils. The calyx is pinkish to dark red, measuring 1.5–2.5 cm and opening into 10–16 pointed lobes. The petals are white to creamy orange, hairy, and range from 1.5 to 2.5 cm in length, often featuring bristles at the tips.
 
Fruit:
The fruit develops within the calyx tube and enlarges as it ripens. It contains a single seed that germinates while still attached to the parent plant, forming a propagule that is long, stout, and ridged, maturing from green to dark purple.
 
Habitat and Ecology
Preferred Habitat:
Bruguiera gymnorhiza grows in tidal areas, coastal wetlands, and mangrove forests, thriving in various substrates, including waterlogged soils.
 
Pollination:
The flowers are primarily pollinated by sunbirds, and the tree serves as a crucial food source for the caterpillars of the moth Olene mendosa.
 
Cultivation and Uses
Propagation:
The species is easily propagated using its propagules, which can be collected when mature and directly planted in a suitable medium. It prefers slightly alkaline soils with high-nitrogen fertilizers.
 
Ethnobotanical Uses:
Culinary: The leaves are consumed as a salad or used for flavoring. The inner flesh of the hypocotyl is sweetened with sugar for consumption.
Medicinal: The bark is traditionally used to treat diarrhea and malaria, while the fruit is employed for its astringent properties.
Timber: The heavy, fine-grained wood is valued for construction, furniture, and charcoal production.
 
Landscaping Features
Bruguiera gymnorhiza is well-suited for planting along the edges of ponds, reservoirs, and waterways. Its lush foliage and striking reddish flowers provide aesthetic appeal to water gardens and marsh landscapes. Although it grows slowly, the tree requires minimal maintenance and can flower even when young.
 
Landscape Uses:
Coastal and riverine environments
Thematic landscaping in water and marsh gardens