mangrove flora: tumu (bruguiera gymnorhiza)

CONTENTS

Fauna index

Flowering plants

Peter K L Ng and N Sivasothi (editors)

Tumu Bruguiera gymnorhiza Family Rhizophoraceae East Africa to Southeast Asia, southern Japan, Micronesia, Polynesia. Locally present in most sites. Grows up to 15 m tall.		Branches of Bruguiera gymnorhiza Top (left), side (middle) and half views of flower Fruiting branch Close-up of fruit
Bark Kneed pneumatophores	With buttresses and kneed roots; bark brown to almost black; leaves opposite, blades elliptic-oblong, leathery; stipules often reddish. Flower 1 per leaf angle, sepals shiny red in full sun, yellowish in the shade; seed germinates in fruit, seedling hypocotyl up to 20 cm long and 3 cm wide, cigar-shaped, slightly angular with a blunt narrow tip.
One of the largest trees of mangroves in its range (36 m tall) but in Singapore does not grow very tall. Grows best on dry, well aerated soil towards the landward side but in Singapore, also found in mud. Timber used as firewood, charcoal, house-posts and rafters. Leaves and peeled hypocotyl may be eaten after being boiled. Rare.

See also
Bakau putih Bruguiera cylindrica
Lenggadai Bruguiera praviflora
Ultrafiltration of salt, vivipary and knee roots as adaptations to the mangroves.

What is mangrove?
Introduction

The Ecosystem
Abiotic
Biotic

Value
Intro
Products
Indirect uses
Potential uses

About Mangroves
in Singapore
History
Mangroves to visit
Conservation

From "A Guide to Mangroves of Singapore", Peter K. L. Ng and N. Sivasothi (editors)
Volume 1: The Ecosystem and Plant Diversity and Volume 2: Animal Diversity
Authors: Kelvin K. P. Lim, Dennis H. Murphy, T. Morgany, N. Sivasothi, Peter K. L. Ng,
B. C. Soong, Hugh T. W. Tan, K. S. Tan & T. K. Tan
BP Guide to Nature Series published by the Singapore Science Centre, sponsored by British Petroleum
© 2001 Raffles Museum of Biodiversity Research, The National University of Singapore & The Singapore Science Centre