{"slug":"rhizophora-mucronata","scientific_name":"Rhizophora mucronata","common_names":["Red mangrove","Loop-root mangrove","Asiatic mangrove","Mkoko"],"family":"Rhizophoraceae","type":"broadleaf_evergreen","mature_height_m":20,"mature_spread_m":10,"growth_rate":"slow","lifespan_years":null,"hardiness_zones":null,"sun":"full","water":"high","soil":"Deep soft tidal mud rich in humus; daily flooding by sea water","native_range":"Native to tropical coasts of the Indian Ocean and western Pacific from Kenya, Tanzania, Mozambique, Madagascar and South Africa through the Red Sea, Arabia, India and Sri Lanka to South-East Asia, New Guinea and northern Australia.","description":"The tall stilt-rooted mangrove of East African and Indo-Pacific shorelines, growing to 27 m with a trunk up to 70 cm, arching prop roots and long pencil-like propagules that drop and plant themselves in the mud. It fringes tidal creeks and estuaries, buffers coasts against storms and erosion, nurses fish and stores large amounts of carbon. It is the main species in community mangrove restoration such as Kenya's Mikoko Pamoja carbon project, and is cut for poles, charcoal and tannin.","care":"Plant propagules directly into mud in the right tidal zone (flooded by normal high tides) and expect slow growth; 35 to 40 years to a 19 cm trunk. Crabs eat seedlings, so shade-dry propagules for a few days before planting. Most countries protect mangroves by law; check permits before cutting or planting. No pruning or watering needed.","benefits":["erosion_control","salt_tolerant","flood_tolerant","carbon","wildlife","birds","storm_resistant"],"uses":["riparian","reforestation"],"cautions":["none"],"image_url":"https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ea/Rhizophora_mucronata_Propagules.jpg","image_credit":"Wikimedia Commons, file Rhizophora_mucronata_Propagules.jpg (see file page for author and licence)","sources":["https://apps.worldagroforestry.org/treedb2/speciesprofile.php?Spid=18093","https://apps.worldagroforestry.org/treedb/AFTPDFS/Rhizophora_mucronata.PDF","https://www.gbif.org/species/207664687"],"data_note":null,"updated_at":"2026-11-08T01:00:46.205Z","page_url":"https://treerm.org/trees/rhizophora-mucronata","markdown_url":"https://treerm.org/trees/rhizophora-mucronata.md","regions":[{"country":"AU","region":"NT","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://www.gbif.org/species/207664687"},{"country":"AU","region":"QLD","locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://www.gbif.org/species/207664687"},{"country":"ID","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://www.gbif.org/species/207664687"},{"country":"IN","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://www.gbif.org/species/207664687"},{"country":"KE","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"native","note":"Gazi Bay (Mikoko Pamoja) and the Lamu archipelago","source_url":"https://www.gbif.org/species/207664687"},{"country":"LK","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://www.gbif.org/species/207664687"},{"country":"MG","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://www.gbif.org/species/207664687"},{"country":"MZ","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://www.gbif.org/species/207664687"},{"country":"TZ","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"native","note":null,"source_url":"https://www.gbif.org/species/207664687"},{"country":"ZA","region":null,"locality":null,"status":"native","note":"KwaZulu-Natal","source_url":"https://www.gbif.org/species/207664687"}],"license":"CC-BY-4.0"}