RHIZOPHORACEAE
Morphological description
Woody, non-climbing. Usually trees. Sometimes stellate hairs, twigs hollow (Pellacalyx); sometimes stiltroots (Ceriops, Rhizophora) or kneeroots (Bruguiera); twigs hollow (Gynotroches);
Leaves
Leaves simple, usually decussate, entire; vegetative bud cigar-shaped, stipules overwrapping, with colleters at the base inside. Sometimes leaves distichous, triplinerved (Anisophyllea); leaves alternate (Combretocarpus); leaves black-dotted below (Bruguiera, Carallia, Rhizophora); leaves dentate (some Carallia, some Pellacalyx).
Inflorescence
Inflorescence cymose.
Flowers
Flowers hermaphroditic, usually calyx lobes valvate, petals free, usually dissected (not Rhizophora); ovary inferior. Sometimes ovary superior (Gynotroches).
Fruit
Fruit sometimes 3-winged (Combretocarpus). Sometimes fruit a berry (Gynotroches). Sometimes vivipary (hypocotyls growing out while fruit still attached to tree) (Bruguiera, Ceriops, Kandelia, Rhizophora).
Seed
Seed. Sometimes vivipary (hypocotyls growing out while fruit still attached to tree) (Bruguiera, Ceriops, Kandelia, Rhizophora).
Different from: Loganiaceae: sympetalous, ovary superior. — Rubiaceae: sympetalous, stipules not overwrapping.
Distribution: The family pantropical, some genera restricted to mangrove forest; 9 Malesian genera: - Anisophyllea (paleotropical), lowland rain forest; - Bruguiera (paleotropical), mangrove; - Carallia (Madagascar to Solomons), lowland and lower montane forest, swamp; - Ceriops (paleotropical), mangrove; - Combretocarpus (West Malesia), peat swamp; - Gynotroches (Southeast Asia to Solomons), lowland primary and secondary forest, montane forest; - Kandelia (Southeast Asia, West Malesia), mangrove; - Pellacalyx (Southeast Asia and Malesia), lowland forest; - Rhizophora (pantropical), mangrove.
Notes: Anisophyllea and Combretocarpus often placed in a separate family. — The fallen seedlings of the mangrove species are dispersed by the sea. — Tannin is extracted from several mangrove species; wood of some species used for charcoal and timber.
Literature: Ding Hou, Fl. Males. I, 5 (1958) 429- 493; V.J. Chapman, Mangrove Vegetation, Vaduz (1976); P.B. Tomlinson, The Botany of Mangroves, Cambridge, Mass. (1986); K.M. Wong & L. Madani, Tree Fl. Sabah & Sarawak 1 (1995) 15 -26 (Anisophylleaceae); L. Madani & K.M. Wong, ibid.: 321-350 (Rhizophoraceae).
Spot characters (Van Balgooy): hizophoraceae 14, 83 - Anisophyllaea 18, 47, 55, 64, 65, 79, 81, 92 - Bruguiera 31, 32, 81, 92 - Carallia 22, 31, 32, 81, 92; C. caryophylloidea 67 - Ceriops 32, 79, 81, 92 - Combretocarpus 22, 26, 31, 79, 92, 98 - Gynotroches 32, 81 - Kandelia 32, 79, 81, 92 - Pellacalyx 25, 32, 91 - Rhizophora 25, 32, 81, 92.
Illustrations: Fig. 138. Anisophyllea disticha (Jack) Baill.: a. habit; b & c. male flower; d. LS of female flower. Fig. 139. Bruguiera exaristata Ding Hou: a. habit; b-d. petals; e. stamen, f. LS of flower; g. CS of ovary; h & i. hypocotyls.
Image in PhytoImages for Rhizophoraceae