Type : Seedlings
Quantity : 02 Seedlings
 
Common Names: Black Mangrove, Upriver Orange Mangrove, Busing, Tumu Berau, Tumu Mata Buaya
 
Family: Rhizophoraceae

Native Distribution: Ranging from India and Sri Lanka to Southeast Asia, including the Philippines, Malaysia, and extending to northern Australia and New Caledonia.
 
Classification and Characteristics
Growth Form:
Bruguiera sexangula is a medium to large tree, reaching heights of up to 30 meters. It exhibits a conical to columnar shape and is adapted to aquatic environments, often found in mangrove forests and coastal areas.
 
Trunk:
The tree features a greyish bark, characterized by fissures and numerous lenticils.
 
Roots:
Its root system includes fin-like buttresses and kneed roots that rise above the substrate, facilitating stability in tidal zones.
 
Foliage:
The tree has opposite, long-stalked leaves with leathery, oval to oblong blades measuring 8–20 cm in length. The leaves are smooth-margined, shiny green above, and yellow-green underneath.
 
Flowers:
The pendulous flowers, found in small clusters, have a pale yellowish-green to reddish-orange calyx, measuring 3–3.5 cm, with 10–14 pointed lobes. The creamy orange petals, 10–15 mm long, may have hair and bristles at the tips.
 
Fruit:
The fruit develops within the calyx and is known as a propagule. It germinates while still attached to the parent plant, forming a cigar-shaped structure that matures from green to dark purple.
 
Habitat and Ecology
Preferred Habitat:
Bruguiera sexangula thrives in tidal waterways, coastal fish ponds, and mangrove forests, often found on substrates that are not frequently submerged.
Pollination:
Its flowers are primarily pollinated by sunbirds, and the tree serves as a local food source for the caterpillars of the moth Olene mendosa.
 
 
Cultivation and Uses
Propagation:
The species can be propagated using its propagules, which can be collected from the shoreline or directly from the tree.
Ethnobotanical Uses:
Culinary: The fruit is occasionally used in traditional dishes, such as betel quid in Malaysia and Indonesia.
Medicinal: Used to treat shingles, with roots and leaves applied for burn relief.
Timber: The moderately durable timber is utilized for construction, fishing stakes, and as firewood.
 
Landscaping Features
Bruguiera sexangula is ideal for planting along the edges of ponds, reservoirs, and waterways. Its lush foliage and attractive reddish flowers add aesthetic value to water gardens and marsh landscapes. While it grows slowly, this low-maintenance tree enhances coastal and riverine environments.
 
Landscape Uses:
Coastal, beachfront, riverine, and marsh gardens
Thematic landscaping in water gardens and marsh gardens