Citation: Vierh., Denkschr. Akad. Wiss., Wien. 71:435 (1907) var. resinifera (Forster f.)Bakh, in Bull. Jard. Bot. Buitenz. ser. 3, 3:104, 210; t. 16 (1921).

Synonymy: Sceura marina Forsskål, Fl. Aegypt.-Arab. 2:37 (1775); A. resinifera Forster f., Pl. Escul. 72 ( 1786); A. tomentosa L. var. australasica Walp., Rep. Bot. Syst. 4:133 (1845); A. mindanaensis Elmer, Leafl. Philipp. Bot. 8:2868 (1915); A. marina (Forsskål)Vierh. var. australasica (Walp.)Mold., Phytologia 7:230 (1960).

Common name: Mangrove, grey (or white) mangrove.

Description:
Stout shrub or small tree, 2-10 m high, glabrous except on the inflorescence; leaves coriaceous, shortly petiolate, lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, 3-8 cm long, 2-4.5 cm wide, glossy-green above, whitish or grey beneath with minute scales.

Cymes contracted into small heads of sessile flowers in the upper axils, the heads usually on stout angular peduncles; flowers 2.5-5 mm diam.; calyx 3-4 mm long, with 5 almost orbicular ciliate lobes, pubescent outside, glabrous inside; corolla white, soon turning yellow or orange-yellow, nearly twice the length of the calyx, with 4 ovate lobes, pubescent outside, glabrous and orange inside, the tube campanulate, 1-2 mm long, the lobes 3-4 mm long, patent; stamens short; ovary globular, hairy at the summit, 1-celled, with 4 orthotropous ovules; style very short, glabrous, conical.

Fruit a compressed-ovoid capsule, 2-4 cm long, 7-20 mm wide, densely grey-hoary to -pubescent, opening by 2 thick valves; embryo with fleshy cotyledons and the radicle escaping from the capsule and germinating in the mud after the whole fruit has fallen.

Published illustration: Elliot & Jones (1982) Encyclopaedia of Australian plants 2:264; Boland et al. (1984) Forest trees in Australia edn 4:81.

Distribution:  Growing in mud close to the sea shores and tidal streams.   W.Aust.; N.T.; Qld; N.S.W.; Vic.   Indonesia; Timor; Papua New Guinea; Solomon Islands; New Caledonia, New Zealand and Polynesia. Conservation status: native Flowering time: April — June.

SA Distribution Map based on current data relating to specimens held in the State Herbarium of South Australia

Biology: No text

Taxonomic notes: Previously this taxon has very widely been confused with A. officinalis L., a closely allied species distinguished by its flowers being 10-15 mm wide when fully expanded.

Author: Not yet available