B.

Sc in Coastal and Marine Resources

Management.

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING AND MANAGEMENT

DEPARTMENT OF COASTAL AND MARINE RESOURCES MANAGEMENT

Ocean University of Sri Lanka.

Field identification guide for mangroves

CRM 2022

Coastal Ecosystems

CRM 2022/23

By:
E M D Lakmal
CRM/2022/002
 Acknowledgment

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to Ms.Kasunthi Amarasekara, whose invaluable

guidance in the completion of this mangrove identification guide. Their passion for the
subject and commitment to fostering a deeper understanding of mangrove ecosystems have
greatly enriched my learning experience.

I am also thankful for the support and encouragement from my fellow students, whose
constructive feedback and shared enthusiasm have contributed to the refinement of this
guide.

Furthermore, I extend my appreciation to the authors of the reference materials and

research papers that formed the foundation of my research. Their pioneering work has been
an essential resource in shaping the content and accuracy of this assignment.

Finally, I would like to thank my family and friends for their unwavering support and
encouragement throughout this academic journey.

This assignment would not have been possible without the collective contributions of these
individuals, and for that, I am truly grateful.

E M D Lakmal,

Ocean University of Sri Lanka.

07/12/2023

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Table of Contents
1. Introduction....................................................................................................................................1

2.Adaptation of mangrove plants...........................................................................................................2

...............................................................................................................................................................3

...............................................................................................................................................................3

...............................................................................................................................................................3

...............................................................................................................................................................3

3.Distribution of mangrove vegetation in Sri Lanka...............................................................................4

04.Structure of mangrove plant.............................................................................................................5

05.Sri Lanka’s Mangroves.......................................................................................................................6

05.1. Aegiceras corniculatum (Avari Kadol)............................................................................................7

05.2. Avicennia marina (Manda)............................................................................................................9

...............................................................................................................................................................9

05.3. Avicennia Officinalis (Manda)......................................................................................................11

05.4. Bruguiera cylindrica (Mal Kadol)..................................................................................................13

.............................................................................................................................................................13

05.5. Bruguiera gymnorrhiza (Mal Kadol).............................................................................................15

05.6. Bruguiera sexangular (Mal Kadol)...............................................................................................17

05.7. Ceriops tagal (Rathu Gas)............................................................................................................19

.............................................................................................................................................................19

05.8. Ceriops decandra (Punkanda)......................................................................................................21

.............................................................................................................................................................21

05.9. Excoecaria agallocha (Telakiriya)................................................................................................23

05.10. Excoecaria indica (Muhudu Kaju)..............................................................................................25

05.11. Heritiera littoralis (Attona).........................................................................................................27

.............................................................................................................................................................27

05.12. Lumnitzera littorea (Rathamilla)................................................................................................29

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05.13. Lumnitzera racemosa................................................................................................................31

.............................................................................................................................................................31

05.14. Nypa fruticans (Gin Pol).............................................................................................................33

05.15. Pemphis acidula (Muhudu Wara)..............................................................................................35

05.16. Rhizophora annamalayana (Maha Kadol).................................................................................37

05.17. Rhizophora apiculata (Kadol)....................................................................................................39

05.18. Rhizophora mucronate (Maha Kadol)........................................................................................42

.............................................................................................................................................................42

05.19. Scyphiphora hydrophyllacea (Kalu Kadol)..................................................................................44

05.20. Sonneratia alba (Gal Kirala).......................................................................................................46

.............................................................................................................................................................46

05.21. Sonneratia caseolaris (Kirala)....................................................................................................48

05.22. Xylocarpus granatum (Mutti Kadol)...........................................................................................50

06.Conclution.......................................................................................................................................53

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Table of Figures
Figure 1 Root structure..........................................................................................................................3
Figure 2 Fruit..........................................................................................................................................3
Figure 3 Seed..........................................................................................................................................3
Figure 4 Salt gland..................................................................................................................................3
Figure 5Root Structure...........................................................................................................................3
Figure 6 Mangrove distibution in Sri Lanka............................................................................................4
Figure 7 Basic structure of mangrove plant............................................................................................5
Figure 8 Aegiceras corniculatum............................................................................................................7
Figure 9 Avicennia marina......................................................................................................................9
Figure 10 Avicennia officinalis..............................................................................................................11
Figure 11 Bruguiera cylindrica..............................................................................................................13
Figure 12 Bruguiera cylindrica..............................................................................................................15
Figure 13 Bruguiera sexangular............................................................................................................17
Figure 14 Ceriops tagal.........................................................................................................................19
Figure 15 Ceriops decandra..................................................................................................................21
Figure 16 Excoecaria agallocha.............................................................................................................23
Figure 17 Excoecaria indica..................................................................................................................25
Figure 18 Heritieria littiralis..................................................................................................................27
Figure 19 Lumnitzera littorea...............................................................................................................29
Figure 20 Lumnitzera racemosa...........................................................................................................31
Figure 21 Nypa fruticans.......................................................................................................................33
Figure 22 Pemphis acidula....................................................................................................................35
Figure 23 Rhizophora annamalayana...................................................................................................37
Figure 24 Rhizophora apiculata............................................................................................................39
Figure 25 Rhizophora mucronate.........................................................................................................42
Figure 26 Scyphiphora hydrophyllacea.................................................................................................44
Figure 27 Sonneratia alba.....................................................................................................................46
Figure 28 Sonneratia caseolaris............................................................................................................48
Figure 29 Xylocarpus granatum............................................................................................................50

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 1. Introduction

Mangroves are woody, seed bearing, highly specialized plants ranging in size from shrubs to
tall trees. They occur along sheltered inertial coastlines in association with estuaries and
lagoons.

Mangroves are among the most productive ecosystems in the world. In Sri Lanka mangroves
occur along the sheltered inertial coastlines associated with estuaries and lagoons. The largest
tracts of mangrove habitats in Sri Lanka are found in Puttlam Lagoon, Kala Oya basin and
Trincomalee. Mangroves are associated with woody, seed bearing and highly specialized
plants. Mangroves exist in harsh environments with anaerobic soils, tidal currents, high
salinity, high temperature and strong winds 30 to 35 0C). Therefore, to survive and grow
under such environmental conditions mangrove plants have developed many morphological
and physiological adaptations.

Mangrove flora can be categorized as true mangroves and mangrove associates. True
mangrove species grow only in mangrove environment and do not extend into terrestrial plant
community whereas mangroves associates are found within or in the peripheral areas of
mangrove wetlands. Avicennia officinalis, Avicennia marina (Avicenniaceae), Exoecaria
agallocha, Exoecaria indica (Euphorbiaceae), Lumnitzera racemosa, Lumnitzera littorea
(Combretaceae), Rhizophora mucronata, Rhizophora apiculata, Bruguiera cylindrica,
Bruguiera gymnorhiza, Bruguiera sexangula (Rhizophoraceae), Xylocarpus granatum
(Meliaceae), Sonneratia caseolaris, Sonneratia alba (Sonneratiaceae), Scyphiphora
hydrophyllacea (Rubiaceae), Pemphis acidula (Lythraceae ), Heritiera littoralis
(Sterculiaceae) and Premna integrifolia (Verbenaceae) are true mangroves. Acrostichum
aureum (Fern), Nypa fruticans (Palm), Acanthus ilicifolius (Acanthaceae) and Clerodendron
inerme (Verbenaceae) are common mangrove associates found in Sri Lanka.

Mangroves provide many ecosystem products and services. They provide habitats, feeding
grounds, nursery and hunting grounds for animals, protect the lagoons and the estuaries from
erosion, reduce pollution of near-shore coastal waters by trapping pollutants, provide
recreational grounds and provide opportunities for bird watching, ecotourism, field laboratory
for researchers. Further they provide food and fodder for animals, medicines, pigments
(Tannin), fuel wood, timber for constructions, furniture and as boat building materials. Even
though there are many awareness programs on ‘importance of mangrove conservation’, in Sri
Lanka they are destroyed at an alarming rate due to the construction of shrimp farms,
agricultural expansion, urbanization, unregulated discharge of pollutants, waste disposal,
illegal constructions and mass tourism.

Many actions have been taken by the Department of Wildlife Conservation, Forest
Department, Central Environmental Authority and Coast Conservation Department in Sri
Lanka to conserve remaining mangrove patches in Sri Lanka. These conservation activities
involve the establishment of the Nature Resource Center at Pambala and Mangrove Education
Center at Maduganga. Other activities involved are, the establishment of mangrove nurseries,
restoration of mangrove forests in lagoons and estuaries, training community leaders,
educating, developing and improving skills and attitudes of villagers who are residence of
nearby mangroves on, ‘mangrove conservation’.
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 2.Adaptation of mangrove plants

Mangrove plants are woody, halophytes specialized to live in a saline environment. They have
specialized adaptations to live in this harsh conditions of the mangrove environment.

Prop roots and stilt roots

Since mangroves live on a loose substrate, three are prop roots arising from the branches and
stilt roots arising from the main stem to anchor the plants to substrate. These roots also help to
filter out the salt entering the plants.

E.g. Rhizophora

Salt secreting glands

Some mangrove species have salt secreting glands through which excess salt is removed
from the plants.

E.g. Aviceinia, Acanthus and Aegiceras

Xeromorphic leaves
In order to avoid water loss through transpiration, the cuticle is thick and the water storage
tissue is extensive.

Air breathing roots

Since mangrove soil is poor in oxygen, air breathing roots or pneumatophores grow upwards
from the soil surface. Gas exchange takes place through the opening of these roots,

E.g. Avicennia, sonneratia.

There are also knee-roots that grow upwards from the soil surface in the from of bent knees
which are capable of breathing air

E.g. Bruguiera.

Vivipary
To meet the hostile conditions of the environment, viviparty is another adaptation to ensure a
late developmental stage of the embryo when it is released from the mother plant

E.g. Rhizophora, Bruguiera, Ceriops, Aegiceras.

2
Figure 1 Root structure

Figure 3 Seed

Figure 4 Salt gland

Figure 2 Fruit

Figure 5Root Structure

3
 3.Distribution of mangrove vegetation in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka, a tropical island nation in South Asia, boasts a diverse and extensive distribution of
mangrove vegetation along its coastal regions. These unique ecosystems are primarily found in
estuarine areas, lagoons, and river deltas, creating a dynamic interface between land and sea. The
western, southern, and eastern coasts of Sri Lanka are particularly rich in mangrove biodiversity,
hosting a variety of flora and fauna that have adapted to the challenging intertidal conditions.

Figure 6 Mangrove distibution in Sri Lanka

4
 04.Structure of mangrove plant

The mangrove plant is consisting with four major body parts. As well as those body parts are adapted
to keep live of mangrove plant in harsh environmental condition. Such as,

 Roots
 Leaves
 Stem/Trunk
 Reproductive structure

Leaves

Reproductive structure

Roots

Stem

Figure 7 Basic structure of mangrove plant

5
 05.Sri Lanka’s Mangroves

The mangroves in Sri Lanka are composed of 22 species of true mangroves and 18 species of
mangrove associates. The most extensive mangroves occur in Puttalam – Kalapitiya area in
association with esturies. Dense localized stands also occur in association with estuaries in the
Southern, South western and North eastern coasts.

True Mangrove species Mangrove associate species

Aegiceras corniculatum Acanthus ilicifolius
Avicennia marina Acrostichum aureum
Avicennia officinalis Aegiceras corniculatum
Bruguiera cylindrica Aeluropus lagopoides
Bruguiera gymnorrhiza Ardisia elliptica
Bruguiera sexangula Blumea lacera
Ceriops tagal Ceriops tagal
Ceriops decandra Clerodendrum inerme
Excoecaria agallocha Cynometra iripa
Excoecaria indica (Sapium indicum) Derris scandens
Heritiera littoralis Dolichandrone spathacea
Lumnitzera littorea Derris trifoliata
Lumnitzera racemosa Excoecaria agallocha
Nypa fruticans Heritiera littoralis
Pemphis acidula Hibiscus tiliaceus
Rhizophora annamalayana Ipomoea pes-caprae
Rhizophora apiculata Sesuvium portulacastrum
Rhizophora mucronata Sporobolus virginicus
Scyphiphora hydrophyllacea
Sonneratia alba
Sonneratia caseolaris
Xylocarpus granatum

6
 05.1. Aegiceras corniculatum (Avari Kadol)

General characters  Evergreen shrub or small tree growing up to about 6 metres.

Other characters  Much branched tree/ Trunk base much thick with growth of
basal.
Figure 8 Aegiceras corniculatum
Features of flower  Inflorescence: Simple umbel in the shoot apex or on the
Scientific Name Aegiceras corniculatum
axillary branches.
Common name Avari Kadol
 Petal: 5white
Kingdom Plantae
 Calyx: 5-lobe, green
Oder Ericales
 Size: Diameter 0.4-0.5cm and length 0.5-0.6cm
Family Primulaceae
 other: 5 stamens opposite to petal
Genus  Color: WhiteAegiceras
Species
Features of fruit A. Corniculatum
 Fruit long (5-8cm)
Conservation Status 6
 Surface: Smooth, cylindrical with pointed tip, usually curved
Type of mangrove TrueThey
hanging fruit. Mangrove
resemble long beans, tiny bananas or
horns.
 Color: Green to reddish in maturation/light green ripening to
pink or purple.
Leaf arrangement  Leaves oval (4-8cm) thick, leathery dark green glossy above,

7
 paler below.
 The leaves are arranged alternately in spirals.
 No stipules.
 The leaves often encrusted with salt crystals.
Type of roots  Roots along the soil surface are exposed to air.
Distribution  Found in lagoon fringing as well as riverine mangrove in most
of the mangles.

05.2. Avicennia marina (Manda)

Scientific Name Avicennia marina

Common name Manda
Kingdom Plantae
Oder Lamiales
Family Acanthaceae
Genus Avicennia
Species Figure 9 AvicenniaA.marina
marina
Conservation Status 3
Type of mangrove True Mangrove

8
General characters  Lower growing, large tree or shrub
 Height up to 10m.
Other characters  Tree well branched.
 smooth yellowish-brown bark made up of thin, stiff, brittle
flakes.
Features of flower  Inflorescence: Terminal
 Petals: 4
 Color: Yellow
 Seed type: Crypto viviparous
Features of fruit  Size: 12-15mm long
 Color: grey
 Surface: finely hairy
Leaf arrangement  Simple, opposite decussate,
 Color – dark green.
 Beneath: whitish yellow.
 Blade: obovate
 Apex: acute S
 Size: 3-6cm long
Type of roots  Pencil like pneumatophores
Distribution  Could tolerate wide range of salinity.
 Mainly found in lagoon fringing mangles all around Sri Lanka

9
 05.3. Avicennia Officinalis (Manda)

Figure 10 Avicennia officinalis

Scientific Name Avicennia officinalis

Common name Manda
Kingdom Plantae
Oder Lamiales
Family Acanthaceae
Genus Avicennia
Species A. officinalis
Conservation Status 3
Type of mangrove True Mangrove

10
General characters  Tree or shrub
 Tree to 12m tall, sometimes 22m.
 Bark is smooth, with lenticels, light colored and not fissured.
Other characters  Tree well branched
 Smooth brownish brown bark
Features of flower  Inflorescence: umbel or a panicle, terminal and in the axils of
the uppermost leaves.
 Petals:4
 Color: Yellow color
 Calyx:5 lobed
 Size: diameter 6-8cm,
 Zygomorphic, sessile flowers in compact heads, 4 stamens.
 Larger than A. marina.
 Seed type: Crypto viviparous
Features of fruit  Size: 2.5-3cm long,2-2.5cm width
 Color: pericarp greenish yellow
 Surface: densely hairy, wrinkled, broadly ovoid, beaked or
heart shape.
Leaf arrangement  Simple, opposite,
 Color – Dark green shiny
 Beneath – whitish yellow
 Blade: obovate or broadly oblong
 Apex: rounded Size: 4-12cm long
 Slightly hairy beneath, edges slightly curved down, possesses
salt glands.
Type of roots  Pencil like pneumatophores
Distribution  Prefer low salinities.
 Mainly found in lagoon fringing mangles away from the
lagoon mouth.

11
 05.4. Bruguiera cylindrica (Mal Kadol)

Figure 11 Bruguiera cylindrica

Scientific Name Bruguiera cylindrica

Common name Mal Kadol
Kingdom Plantae
Oder Malpighiales
Family Rhizophoraceae
Genus Bruguiera
Species B. Cylindrica
Conservation Status 3
Type of mangrove True Mangrove

12
General characters  Bush or small tree
 Height up to 6m.
Other characters  Smaller tree than other two Bruguiera species.
 Not heavily branched.
Features of flower  Inflorescence: axillary, 3-flowered cyme,
 Petals:8
 Color: white color, hairy outside
 Calyx: 8 lobed, yellowish green, smooth
 Size: small flower, length 0.8-1.2cm.
 Seed type: viviparous
Features of fruit  Size: diameter 0.5-1.0cm, length 10-15cm
 Color: green to purplish green
 Surface: smooth, slightly ridged.
Leaf arrangement  Simple, opposite
 Blade: lance-ovate
 Apex: acuminate
 Size: 8-10cm
Type of roots  Knee roots and buttresses.
Distribution  Restricted distribution.
 Found in lagoon fringing mangles in the west coast

Scientific Name Bruguiera gymnorrhiza

Common name Mal Kadol
Kingdom Plantae
Oder Malpighiales
Family Rhizophoraceae
Genus Bruguiera
Species B.Gymnorrhiza
Conservation Status 3
Type of mangrove True Mangrove

05.5. Bruguiera gymnorrhiza (Mal Kadol)

13
General characters  Tree
 Height up to 20m.
Other characters  Densely spreading branches
 Pedicels and flowers reddish color.
Features of flower  Inflorescence: Terminal
 Petals:4
 Color: Yellow color
 Calyx: 5 lobed
 Seed type: viviparous
Features of fruit  Size: diameter 1.7-2.0cm, length 20-30cm
 Color: dark green to purple tinted brown
 Surface: smooth, cylindrical
Leaf arrangement  Simple, opposite,
 Color: Dark green, lower surface yellowish green
 Smooth and thick
 No black dots on the surface
 Blade: ovate Apex: acuminate
 Size: 10-15cm.
Type of roots  Found in most of the mangrove around Sri Lanka
Distribution  Knee roots and small buttresses.

Scientific Name Bruguiera sexangular

Common name Mal Kadol
Kingdom Plantae
Oder Malpighiales
Family Rhizophoraceae
Genus Bruguiera
Species B.Sexangular
Conservation Status 3
Type of mangrove True Mangrove

05.6. Bruguiera sexangular (Mal Kadol)

14
General characters  Tree
 Height up to 33m.
Other characters  Much branched, spreading or diffused, petioles, midribs,
pedicels and flowers yellow.
Features of flower  Petals: Yellowish brown, densely fringed with hairs
 Calyx: 10-12 lobed, yellow, mature calyx tube distinctly
ribbed, each petal lobe with 0-2 apical bristles not exceeding
the lobe apices.
 Size: 2cm long
 Seed type: viviparous.
Features of fruit  Size: diameter 1.5-2.0cm, length 10cm
 Color: dark green
 Surface: glabrous to slight rough, slightly ridged Capsule or
berry with yellowish persistent calyx.
Leaf arrangement  Simple, opposite decussate
 Blade: elliptic-oblong
 Apex: acute
 Size: 8-10cm long
Type of roots  Knee roots and small buttresses present.
Distribution  Occur in most of the mangles

Scientific Name Ceriops tagal

Common name Rathu Gas
Kingdom Plantae
Oder Malpighiales
Family Rhizophoraceae
Genus Ceriops
Species C.Tagal
Conservation Status 3
Type of mangrove True Mangrove

05.7. Ceriops tagal (Rathu Gas)

15
General characters  Shrub or small tree
 Height between 3-5m.
Other characters  Tree conical in shape Cylindrical long hanging fruit.
 Prefer well drained sandy substratum. Mainly found in lagoon
fringing mangles. Common mangrove species.
 Bark: Reddish brown.
Features of flower  Inflorescence: branched umbel with 3-4 flowers
 Petals:5-6
 Color: white, emarginated
 Calyx: 5 lobed, greenish yellow
 Size: 1cm diameter
 Seed type: viviparous.
Features of fruit  Size: diameter 2-3cm, length 25-30cm
 Color: brownish green
 Surface: rough, ridged, cotyledonary body reddish when ripe
and ready to fall.
Leaf arrangement  Simple, opposite
 Blade: ovate-oblong
 Apex: rounded
 Size: 4-8cm long
Type of roots  Thin stilt roots.
Distribution Scientific Name Ceriops sandy
 Prefer well drained decandra
substratum.
Common name Punkanda
 Mainly found in lagoon fringing mangles.
Kingdom Plantae
Oder Malpighiales
Family Rhizophoraceae
Genus Ceriops
Species C.Decandra
Conservation Status 3
Type of mangrove True Mangrove

05.8. Ceriops decandra (Punkanda)

16
General characters  Tree, syllepsis,lateral axes developing in pairs, terminal buds
short.
 No basal sprouting.
 Buttress,aerial roots and pnematophores present
Other characters  Have a marked dorsal thickening on the terminal buds are
flattened.
 Hypocotyl sharply ridged
Features of flower  Stamens not enclosed at anthesis
 Short filament
 Antepetalous stamens are apressed to the subtending petals
Features of fruit  Inflorescence: branched umbel with 3-4 flowers
 Petals:5-6
 Color: white, emarginated
 Calyx: 5 lobed, greenish yellow
 Size: 1cm diameter
 Seed type: viviparous.
Leaf arrangement  Simple, opposite
 Blade: ovate-oblong
 Apex: rounded
 Size: 4-8cm long
Type of roots  Thin stilt roots.
Distribution Scientific Name Excoecaria
 In the tidal zone mixed agallocha
with other Rhizophoraceae.
Common name Telekiriya
 Very rare species in Sri Lanka, presently restricted to a few
Kingdom Plantae
location in Trincomalee District
Oder Malpighiales
Family Euphorbiaceae
Genus Excoecaria
Species E.Agallocha
Conservation Status 3
Type of mangrove True Mangrove

05.9. Excoecaria agallocha (Telakiriya)

17
General characters  Shrub or tree
 Height up to 20m Dioecious. .
Other characters  Woody tree
 Perennial
 Partially deciduous
 Much branched
 Very dense with dark leaves and spreading branches
 Bark: Grey, fissured with poisonous milky latex Bark
lenticulate, lenticel prominent on young twigs and also
present in mature trunk.
 Mature trunk base with gall like tumorous growth.
Features of flower  Male Inflorescence: catkin, up to 7cm long,
 Female inflorescence: mixed cyme,
 Petals: green and white
 Calyx: yellowish green
 Size: diameter 0.2-0.3cm
 Seed type: normal seed.
Features of fruit  Size: 3 lobed
 Schizocarp (fruit like combined 3 balls)
 Size: diameter 0.6cm
 Color: green
 Surface: leathery
Leaf arrangement  Simple, alternate, spirally arranged, somewhat cluster to the
end of the erect shoot
 Blade: ovate-elliptic
 Apex: sub-acuminate
 Size: 12cm long.

Type of roots  Generally, without any aerial growth

 Very often superficial spreading horizontal roots are exposed
due to water erosion during tidal flashing.
Distribution  All around Sri Lanka in Lagoon fringing and riverine mangals.

18
 05.10. Excoecaria indica (Muhudu Kaju)

Figure 17 Excoecaria indica

Scientific Name Excoecaria indica

Common name Muhudu Kaju
Kingdom Plantae
Oder Malpighiales
Family Euphorbiaceae
Genus Excoecaria
Species E.indica
Conservation Status 3
Type of mangrove True Mangrove

19
General characters  Deciduous tree
 Unisex
 Height up to 5-7m
Other characters  Occur along river mouth, limited distributed mangrove
species in Sri Lanka.
 Thorns are present in the lower parts of the trunk.
 Evergreen to semi-deciduous, tree with milky juice
Features of flower  Flowers terminal
 Spike
 5cm long
Features of fruit  Spherical
 Woody capsule
 Green to black in color
 3 seeds presence
Leaf arrangement  Opposite, obovate to broad-elliptic.
 Apex: Rounded or shortly pointed,
 4cm long,2.5cm wide
Type of roots  Limited distribution in the county. Recorded in only few
places in North west coast
Distribution  No above ground roots

20
 05.11. Heritiera littoralis (Attona)

Figure 18 Heritieria littiralis

Scientific Name Heritieria littiralis
Common name Attona
Kingdom Plantae
Oder Myrtales
Family Malvaceae
Genus Heritieria
Species H.Littoralis
Conservation Status 3
Type of mangrove True Mangrove

21
General characters  Tree
 Height up to 16m.
Other characters  Prefer well drained soil.
 Bark: Grayish, scaly, vertically fissured
Features of flower  Inflorescence: axillary or terminal, loose panicle
 Petals: purple and brown
 Calyx: 5 lobes, reddish
 Size: female flower 3-7mm long, Male flower 5-6mm long
 Unisexual flowers
 Both densely hairy
 Seed type: normal seed.
Features of fruit  Size: 5-7cm long
 Color: green to brown
 Surface: smooth Ridge on outer edge resembles a chicken’s
comb, contains brown, shining, strongly keeled seeds winged
on one side.
Leaf arrangement  Blade: elliptic to obovate
 Apex: acute or sub-obtuse
 Size: 15-30cm long Leaf under surface grayish white, bole up
to 1m in girth.
Type of roots  Buttresses.
Scientific Name Lumnitzera
 Broad buttresses littorea
and well-developed plank roots
Distribution Common name Rathmilla
 Found in both south and west coast mangles
Kingdom Plantae
 Individual trees show scattered distribution within a Mangal
Oder Myrtales
Family Combretaceae
Genus Lumnitzera
Species L.Littorea
Conservation Status 3
Type of mangrove True Mangrove

05.12. Lumnitzera littorea (Rathamilla)

22
General characters  Short shrub to tree
 Height up to 25m with a trunk 50-65cm in diameter.
Other characters  Bark dark blackish brown, deeply longitudinally fissured.
 Branchlets reddish or green when young, glabrous.
Features of flower  Flowers small (2-3cm) in dense bunches
 Color: bright red
 Petal: five tiny petals, the stamens are much longer than the
petals
 The flowers are fragrant and produce lots of nectar.
Features of fruit  The small fruits(9-12cm) are longitudinally ribbed, corky and
float, and dispersed by water.
 Each fruit contains one seed.
 Color: Yellowish green
 Shape: Vase-shape
Leaf arrangement  Leaves spatula shaped with oval ends (2-8cm)
 Thick and fleshy, arranged in a spiral.
 There is small gland at the leaf tip that resembles leaf nodules
and are believed to contain nitrogen fixing bacteria.
Type of roots  Some may have slender knee roots
Distribution  Restricted to Madu Ganga Mangal in the southern wet zone

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 05.13. Lumnitzera racemosa

Figure 20 Lumnitzera racemosa

Scientific Name Lumnitzera racemosa

Common name Beriya
Kingdom Plantae
Oder Myrtales
Family Combretaceae
Genus Lumnitzera
Species L.Racemosa
Conservation Status 3
Type of mangrove True Mangrove

24
General characters  Evergreen shrub or small tree growing up to 8 meters tall.
 The bole can be up to 30cm in diameter.
 Much branched tree
Other characters  Preferring sandy or hard mud areas.
Features of flower  Flowers are up to 1 cm length
 Exhibiting 5 small white petals.
Features of fruit  Fruit is fleshy and flattened while on the tree, but fibrous after
floating in water
 The fruits are buoyant, single-seeded green capsules which
look similar to those of the native white mangrove
Leaf arrangement  Small up to 4cm length, 2cm width.
 The shape is obovate (broadest above the middle of the leaf),
 Apex is rounded or emarginated (the indent in the tip of the
leaf).
 Petiole is often absent (leaves are thus often sessile).
 Have serrated edge of the leaf.
Type of roots  Pneumatophores occasionally developed as looping lateral
roots
Distribution  Occur in most of the mangles in Sri Lanka

Scientific Name Nypa fruticans

Common name Gin Pol
Kingdom Plantae
Oder Arecales
Family Arecaceae
Genus Nypa
Species N.Fruticans
Conservation Status 3
Type of mangrove True Mangrove

05.14. Nypa fruticans (Gin Pol)

25
General characters  Plant with a creeping horizontal stem.
Other characters  Only palm species found in the mangroves.
 Grow close together. Often form pure sands.
 Freshwater loving species.
Features of flower  Inflorescence: spike with ahead like part at the tip bearing
female flowers, and bears the male flowers below Staminate
 Flower: peduncular and rachis bracts
 Color: bright yellow when fresh with light green stripes on
both sides
 Size: 25cm (female flower).
 Seed type: oviparous.
Features of fruit  Size: diameter 15-20cm
 Flattened sideways
 Color: chestnut brown
 Surface: smooth, shiny.
Leaf arrangement  Leaf Blade: leaflets linear-lanceolate
 Apex: acute Size: Leaf 4-10m long,
 Color: dull green, mid rib yellowish green.
Type of roots  Roots borne along the lower side of the stem
 No prominent aerial roots
Distribution  Found in riverine mangles, away from river mouths where
water salinity is well below the salinity level of estuaries
 occur in south and west coast mangles

26
 05.15. Pemphis acidula (Muhudu Wara)

Figure 22 Pemphis acidula

Scientific Name Pemphis acidula

Common name Muhudu Wara
Kingdom Plantae
Oder Lamiales
Family Acanthaceae
Genus Prmphis
Species P.Acidula
Conservation Status 3
Type of mangrove True Mangrove

27
General characters  Small to medium-sized evergreen tree or shrub.
Other characters  The bark is grayish-brown and may be fissured.
 wood is hard and durable
Features of flower  Arranged in terminal spikes or clusters.
 Small flower
 Color pink or white.
Features of fruit  Fruit is a capsule.
 Capsules split open to release seeds.
Leaf arrangement  Simple, opposite or sub-opposite.
 Leaves are elliptical to oblong, with a pointed tip.
 Leaf margin is entire (smooth).
Type of roots  Well-developed root system
Distribution  Dry zone (Kalpitiya area)

05.16. Rhizophora annamalayana (Maha Kadol)

Scientific Name Rhizophora annamalayana

Common name Maha Kadol
Kingdom Plantae
Oder Malpighiales
Family Rhizophoraceae
Genus A Rhizophora
Species A.Annamalayana
Conservation Status 3
Type of mangrove True Mangrove

28
Figure 23 Rhizophora annamalayana
General characters  Small tree, 4-8 meters tall.
Other characters  Evergreen
 Viviparous (seeds germinate on the tree)
Features of flower  Small, white, and bisexual
 In clusters of 3-5
 Bisexual flowers with 4 white petals
 Numerous stamens
 Superior ovary
Features of fruit  Leathery, ovoid-shaped
 1-2 seeds per fruit
 Seeds germinate on the tree and develop into long, green,
fleshy propagules
 Propagules fall into the water and disperse
Leaf arrangement  Opposite
 Simple, elliptical-shaped
 Leathery texture
 Smooth margins
 Dark green upper surface, paler lower surface
Type of roots  Prop roots
 Pneumatophores
Distribution  Limited to scattered locations along the southwest coast
Scientific Name  Found in Rhizophora
Pichavaramapiculata
mangrove forest and Muthupet
Common name Kadol
mangrove forest.
Kingdom Plantae
Oder Malpighiales
Family Rhizophoraceae
Genus Rhizophora
Species R.Apiculata
Conservation Status 3
Type of mangrove True Mangrove

05.17. Rhizophora apiculata (Kadol)

29
General characters  Tree/shrub
 Height up to 10m(20-30m)
 Width trunk up to 50 cm in diameter.
Other characters  Stem differentiated into nodes and internodes
 Much branched.
 Common where freshwater influence is strong.
Features of flower  The inflorescence is axillary and 2-flowered.
 The peduncle is 0.5-1.5 cm long and thick.
 The bracteoles at the base of flower are cup-shaped. T
 hey are fleshy and slightly crenate.
 The yellow flowers are bisexual and sessile.
 The sepal is deeply 4-lobed, coriaceous, accrescent and
reflexed in fruit.
 The lobes are ovate, measuring 10-14 mm x 6-8 mm, concave,
acute, brown-yellow to reddish and persistent.
 The receptacle is with a disk.
 There are 4 free petals which are lance-shaped, measuring 8-
11 mm x 1.5-2 mm, membranous, hairless and early caducous.
 There are at most 12 stamens which are sessile, with anthers
6-7.5 mm long, acute, multi-oculate and open with a large
ventral valve.
 The ovary is 1.5-3.5 mm long, semi-inferior, and 2-celled
where the superior part is enclosed by the disk and bluntly
conical.
 The style is 0.5-1 mm long and 2-lobed.
Features of fruit  The brown fruit is an ovoid or inversely pear-shaped berry
 Size: measures 2-3.5 cm long and rather rough.
 The hypocotyl is cylindrical to club-shaped
 Often slightly curved, more or less blunt, smooth and shining.
 It is green tinged with red.
Leaf arrangement  The leaves are arranged decussate and rosette-like at the end
of twigs.
 The stipules are 4-8 cm long, lance-shaped, conspicuous and
caducous.

30
  The reddish petiole is 1.5-3 cm long.
 The blade is entire, elliptical-oblong to sub lanceolate,
measuring 7-18 cm x 3-8 cm, leathery, green and shiny.
 The apex is acute to apiculate, with wedge-shaped base,
distinct above veins, obscure beneath, hairless with minute
and scattered black corky warts on the lower surface.
 It is visible on the older or dried leaves.
Type of roots  Aerial roots branched stilt roots/prop roots
Distribution  Mainly found in riverine mangroves are around the country

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 05.18. Rhizophora mucronate (Maha Kadol)

Figure 25 Rhizophora mucronate

Scientific Name Rhizophora mucronate

Common name Maha Kadol
Kingdom Plantae
Oder Malpighiales
Family Rhizophoraceae
Genus Rhizophora
Species R.Mucronate
Conservation Status 3
Type of mangrove True Mangrove

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General characters  A small to medium-sized tree
 Size: 2–5 m, even up to 10 m tall, with strong apical
dominance.
 Stem up to 400 mm in diameter, straight.
Other characters  Rough reddish, brown to almost black bark and extending,
bristled, light grey branches.
Features of flower  Creamy white flowers
 Few arranged in axillary heads, leathery with short thick stalks
 Calyx persistent
Features of fruit  The fruit is single seeded, up to 70 mm long
 Germinates while still on the tree.
 Seeds do not last long in storage.
Leaf arrangement  Leaves compact, simple, oppositely arranged, broadly elliptic
to oblong-elliptic, leathery, hairless, glossy, dark green to
yellowish green
 Crowded towards the end of branches.
 Margins smooth with pointed apex and distinctive hair-like tip
of up to 5 mm long
 Tapering at both end
 Main vein prominent and with distinguishing black dots
underneath the leaves.
Scientific Name
Type of roots Scyphiphora
 Distinctive aerial roots orhydrophyllacea
knee-roots
Distribution Common name Kalu Kadol
 Common species found in most of the mangals
Kingdom Plantae
Oder Gentianales
Family Rubiaceae
Genus Scyphiphora
Species S.Hydrophyllacea
Conservation Status 3
Type of mangrove True Mangrove

05.19. Scyphiphora hydrophyllacea (Kalu Kadol)

33
General characters  Shrub
 Height up to 3m.
 Twigs reddish when young.
 Bark greyish black, ridged and fissured.
Other characters  Branches are weakly flattened to angled, glabrous with nodes
thickened and reduced internodes and congested nodes
 Bark: brownish bark
Features of flower  Inflorescence: dense axillary condensed cymes.
 Flowers tiny (0.5cm) in dense clusters about 3-4cm across.
 Corolla with four white curving lobes and a short pink tube.
 Nectar is secreted at the base of the tube which is accessible
to short-tongued insects.
Features of fruit  Fruit tiny (0.5cm) oblong with 6-8 ridges, first green then
white.
 The outer layer of the fruit is fleshy with a corky inner layer.
 The fruit separates into two halves when ripe.
 Each fruit contains 4 or fewer seeds.
 The fruits float because of the spongy inner layer.
Leaf arrangement  Spoon-shaped (3-5cm long) smooth waxy glossy and held
upright, arranged opposite one another.
 Old leaves are yellow then turn shiny pink.
 Terminal bud and young leaves coated in a varnish-like
substance.
Type of roots  Not prominent prop roots
Distribution  Limited distribution in the county.
 Recorded only in Puttalam and Kilinochchi Districts

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 05.20. Sonneratia alba (Gal Kirala)

Figure 27 Sonneratia alba

Scientific Name Sonneratia alba

Common name Gal Kirala
Kingdom Plantae
Oder Myrtales
Family Lythraceae
Genus Sonneratia
Species S.Alba
Conservation Status 3
Type of mangrove True Mangrove

35
General characters  Tree
 Height up to 18m.
 Bark is Smooth, gray, finely fissured longitudinally.
Other characters  Prefer high saline water and soil.
 Conical pneumatophores are much shorter than S. caseolaris.
Features of flower  Flowers large 2-4cm long (10cm diameter) with 6 petals
narrow white often inconspicuous, and many long white
stamens that are pink at the base, forming a powder-puff
shape.
 Stiff cup-shaped calyx with sepals broadly triangular and
reddish on the inside.
 Flowers open during the night and are pollinated by bats.
Features of fruit  Pear-shaped (5-7cm) leathery.
 The tips of the calyx lobes bend back towards the stalk.
 Seeds white, flattened, tiny, buoyant.
 Surface is smooth.
Leaf arrangement  Leaves nearly circular or spoon-shaped (5-12.5cm) tapering at
the base, thick and leathery.
 Young leaves are pale green with faint tinge of pink at the leaf
'tip'.
 The leaves are arranged opposite one another.
Scientific Name
Type of roots Sonneratia caseolaris
 Pneumatophores.
Distribution Common name Kirala
 Mostly found in the west coast mangals from chilaw to
Kingdom Plantae
Puttalam lagoon and Kalpitiya peninsula.
Oder Myrtales
 Rare elsewhere.
Family Lythraceae
Genus Sonneratia
Species S.Caseolaris
Conservation Status 3
Type of mangrove True Mangrove

05.21. Sonneratia caseolaris (Kirala)

36
General characters  Medium-sized tree, reaching heights of 15 to 20 meters.
Other characters  Bark is smooth and grayish-brown.
Features of flower  Flowers are usually solitary and axillary.
 Fragrant and have a tubular shape, typically white to pinkish
in color.
Features of fruit  Large, woody, pear-shaped capsule.
 Capsule releases seeds, which are dispersed by water.
Leaf arrangement  Simple leaves.
 Opposite or sub-opposite.
Type of roots  Stilt or prop roots that emerge from the trunk and branches.
Distribution  Intertidal zones along estuaries and coastal areas.

05.22. Xylocarpus granatum (Mutti Kadol)

Scientific Name Xylocarpus granatum

Common name Mutti Kadol
Kingdom Plantae
Oder Sapindales
Family Meliaceae
Genus Xylocarpus
Species X.Granatum
Conservation Status 3
Type of mangrove True Mangrove

Figure 29 Xylocarpus granatum

37
General characters  shrub or tree
 Can grow from 5 to 15 meters tall, exceptionally to 20 meters
Other characters  Heartwood reddish, darkening to a deep warm brown on
exposure, usually sharply demarcated from the narrow, buff-
colored to silver-grey sapwood.
 Grain straight or slightly interlocked.
 Texture fine and even.
 Wood with darker streaks producing attractive watered-silk
figure on tangential surfaces.
 Growth rings distinct or indistinct.
 Bark: thin, smooth, scaly with irregular flakes, whitish to
yellow-brown, inner bark reddish pink.
Features of flower  Inflorescence: an axillary thyrsus up to 6 cm long, often forked
with indistinct main axis.
 Flowers functionally unisexual, regular, 4-merous; pedicel 3–9
mm long,
 Calyx: calyx lobed to about the middle, lobes 1–3 mm long;
petals free, oblong, 3.5–6.5 mm × 2–3 mm, creamy-white or
pinkish
 Stamens 8, united into a tube 2–3.5 mm in diameter
 Disk well developed, 8-lobed, red.
 Ovary superior, 4-celled, style short and thick, stigma large.
Features of fruit  Fruit a globose, pendulous, woody capsule 12–25 cm in
diameter.
 Weighing up to 3 kg
 Tardily dehiscing by 4 valves from apex
 6–20-seeded.
 Seeds: irregularly tetrahedral, up to 6 cm long, brown, with a
corky seed coat. Seedling with hypogeal germination, initially
with scale leaves, first leaves simple.
Leaf arrangement  Leaves alternate, paripinnately compound, with 1–2(–3) pairs
of leaflets
 stipules absent
 Petiole and rachis up to 12 cm long

38
  Petioles 2–11 mm long, thickened
 Leaflets elliptical or obovate, 4–12 cm × 2–6 cm, base
cuneate, apex rounded, entire, leathery.
Type of roots  Branched ribbon-like surface roots.
Distribution  Restricted to few locations in the south and west coasts.
 Highest number of trees are found in Pambala area of the
Chilaw lagoon.

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 06.Conclution

The development of this mangrove identification guide has been a rewarding journey that deepened
my understanding of these crucial coastal ecosystems. Through meticulous research and practical
fieldwork, I have gained insights into the diverse mangrove species inhabiting the coastal regions of
our study area. This guide serves not only as a personal accomplishment but also as a resource for
others interested in the fascinating world of mangrove vegetation. As a university student, this
assignment has reinforced the importance of hands-on learning, environmental stewardship, and the
interconnectedness of diverse ecosystems. It is my hope that this guide contributes to the broader
conversation on mangrove conservation and fosters an appreciation for the vital role these
ecosystems play in sustaining biodiversity, mitigating climate change, and supporting the livelihoods
of coastal communities. The journey of exploration and discovery embodied in this guide has
undoubtedly enriched my academic experience and inspired a continued commitment to the
preservation of our precious coastal environments.

*****

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