chapter 3 mangrove associates€¦ · 3.1 mangroves species: the names of plant species that live...

Survey & documentation of Mangroves in Coastal Karnataka

Environmental Management & Policy Research Institute 22

CHAPTER- 3

MANGROVE ASSOCIATES

3.1 Mangroves Species: The names of plant species that live in association with

mangroves, or growing towards the drier outer edges of the swamps are mangrove

associates. Many of these mangrove associates are present even in inland areas. Though

numerous species of plants may be found close to the mangroves some of the mangrove

associates have close fidelity to the mangrove habitat. Species in Karnataka includes

Barringtonia spp. Caesalpinia bonducella, C. crista, Cerbera manghas, Clerodendrum

inerme, Cyperus malaccensis, Derris trifoliata, Erythrina variegata, Hibiscus tiliaceus,

Pongamia pinnata, Thespesia populnea etc. More details of the mangrove associates, under

their respective families, are furnished in this chapter.

3.2 Associate species of Mangroves Sl.

No.

Family Species

1 Acanthaceae Hygrophila schulli: A rigid, erect herb with a whorl of 6 sharp thorns at

each node, simple leaves and blue zygomorphic flowers (Figure 3.1).

Widespread along the edges of coastal marshes.

2 Anacardiaceae Odina wodier (Kan: Gojjalu): A deciduous soft-wooded tree; pinnate

compound leaves and panicle of small flowers when the tree is leafless in

summer.

More common near estuaries in Uttara Kannada and southern parts of

Udupi district.

3 Apocynaceae Cerbera manghas (Kan: Chende): Shrub or small tree with white latex

and white flowers; green fruits appear like mangoes; older fruits

fibrous (Figure 3.2 & 3.3)

Found on coastal moist soils and on banks of tidal inlets all over

Karnataka. Often planted along hedges in estuarine areas

Rauwolfia tetraphylla. Small shrub, growing gregariously; latex

present; leaves of normally four in a whorl at the node. Fruits pea sized

red berries.

At Devbagh island in Kali estuary.

4 Arecaceae Borassus flabellifer (Kan: Talemara; Eng: Palmyra). This large, black-

stemmed palm has terminal crown of large simple leaves; male and

female palms separate; The female produces large fruit with 2-3 seeds

(Figure 3.4).

Somewhat widespread, but in small numbers, in the coastal plains of

Udupi district.

5 Asteraceae Eclipta prostrata (Kan: Bhringaraj): Herb with white head of flowers.

Moderately present on estuarine bunds and in adjoining fields.

6 Barringtoniaceae Barringtonia acutangula (Kan: Holekavu, Samudraphal): Medium

sized evergreen tree with pendant racemes of pink flowers; fruit

bluntly 4 angled.

Rare: At Hankon and Halaga Kali river bank.

Barringtonia racemosa (Kan: Holekavu, Samudraphal): Small to

medium tree with 15-30 cm long leaves and cream coloured flowers

with pink stamens in long hanging inflorescences.

Rare: Alongside backwaters with low salinity; Mulkod island and

Kulkod in Sharavati river. At Karkimakki, on the bank of Aghanashini;

Kali river bank at Siddar.

7 Bignoniaceae Dolichondron spathacea: Tree close to coastal swamps and rivers; white

fragrant flowers, and long bean like compressed pods; flat seeds with



Sl.

No.

Family Species

corky wings (Figures 3.5 & 3.6).

Widely distributed alongside coastal swamps.

8 Capparidaceae Crateva magna: Small trees with alternate, trifoliate leaves, yellow

flowers in terminal clusters, long free stamens and hard fruits (Figure 3.7).

Rare: Towards upstream of Aghanashini, under more fresh water influx;

at Mankon; Karkimakki.

9 Clusiaceae Calophyllum inophyllum (Kan: Honne): Large evergreen tree, with dark

green leathery ovate leaves showing parallel veins, white, fragrant flowers

with numerous stamens and greenish round, single seeded fruits (Figure

3.8).

Widespread along the coast but numbers greatly diminished in recent

years.

10 Convolvulaceae Argeryia sp. Climber with large cordate leaves, funnel-shaped flowers

and berry fruits.

Found at Hangalur and Anagalli in Kundapur taluk

Ipomoea fistulosa: An introduced shrub running wild; many places of

the coast.

11 Cyperaceae Cyperus malaccensis: Tall sedge, more under fresh water influence

(Figures 3.9 & 3.10).

Fimbristylis ferruginea: A sedge that gregariously in coastal water-

logged fields and edges of mangroves (Figure 3.11).

Mariscus javanicus: A sedge that grows in large clumps along the

margins of backwaters, leaves sharp edged and with rough surface

(Figure 3.12).

12 Ebenaceae Diospyros embryopteris: Small, evergreen tree, with leathery leaves and

guava sized, gummy fruits (Figure 3.13).

Rare: On the bank of Aghanashini river, under greater fresh water

influence, at Mankon.

13 Euphorbiaceae Phyllanthus reticulata (Kirganalia reticulata): Gregarious shrub with

small leaves, along the bank of coastal rivers.

Trewia nudiflora (Kan: Kat-kumbla): Medium sized, soft wooded,

deciduous tree with simple opposite leaves and greenish small flowers.

Rare: Kali riverbank, at Sadhashivgad and Jugar.

14 Fabaceae Acacia farnesiana (Kan: Kasturijali): Thorny bush or small tree; leaves

with minute leaflets; flowers yellow, fragrant; pod dull, brown and

inflated (Figure 3.14).

On dry soils on the banks of estuaries in Kumta; Honmav, Moraba

Caesalpinia bonducella (Kan: Gajlekai): Woody climber; curved sharp

prickles and bipinnate leaves; yellow, fragrant flowers; dark brown

pod, 1-2 seeded (Figure 3.15).

Rare: At Honmav, Kumta and Gangavali, Kali riverbank at

Sadhashivgad.

Caesalpinia crista: A woody climber with bipinnate compound leaves

and sharp prickles. Flowers yellow; pod one seeded; common along the

edges of estuaries, more prolifically growing in places where

mangroves are degraded (Figure 3.16).

Canavalia rosea: A climbing leguminous plant, common along the

coast.

Crotalaria retusa (Kan: Gejjegida, Sanapushpi): A herb with simple

leaves with a notch at the tip and racemes of yellow flowers and

inflated pods.

On the bank of Kali river at Kadwad.



Sl.

No.

Family Species

Crotalaria verrucosa: A herb with angular stem, simple leaves

and racemes of blue flowers; pods inflated. Sparingly present

along the coastal tract. Dalbergia spinosa: A woody, spinous climber; rare.

Derris trifoliata (Kan: Handiballi): A woody climber with three to five

leaflets and pinkish flowers (Figure 3.17).

Most common associate of mangroves.

Erythrina variegata (Kan: Haalivana, Hangaramara; Eng: Coral tree):

Deciduous soft wooded tree; the bark surface covered with small dark

prickles. Leaves 3-foliate; flowers bright red when the tree is leafless;

pollinated by birds.

Throughout the coast

Mucuna pruriens: A leguminous climber with trifoliate leaves and

pods covered with stinging hairs (Figure 3.18).

Kodi, Kundapur taluk.

Pongamia pinnata (Kan: Hongay): A tree with pinnate leaves and

single seeded flat, indehiscent pod (Figure 3.19).

Throughout the coast in small numbers.

15 Lamiaceae Hyptis suaveolens: Strongly aromatic under shrub with opposite leaves

and small blue flowers; common along the coast.

16 Lauraceae Cassytha filiformis: Yellowish to yellowish-green, wiry, leafless,

parasitic, herb, present in masses over the host plants which range from

ground level plants to shrubs and trees.

17 Malvaceae Hibiscus tiliaceus (Eng: Changing rose): Shrub or small tree with

simple, large, cordate leaves and yellow large flowers, changing to

pink in the evening (Figure 3.20).

Rare: Along the bank of Gangavali in Ankola taluk; at Mudnur;

Mogta; Kali riverbank, at Hankon, Sadhashivgad and Siddar.

Thespesia populnea (Kan: Hoovarase; Eng: Portia tree): A medium

sized coastal tree with simple, heart shaped leaves on long stalks and

yellow flowers (Figure 3.21).

Observed sparingly at Haleyangidi and Chitrapu in Mulki taluk;

Kalshanmotte island in Sharavati; Kali riverbank at Sadhashivgad and

Makkeri.

18 Moraceae Ficus racemosa (Kan: Atti; Eng: Fig): Trees with milky latex and hollow,

edible, fleshy false fruits.

Found all along the coast in small numbers

19 Pandanaceae Pandanus fascicularis (Kan: Ketaki; Eng: Screwpine): Gregarious bushy

plant that appears lie a palm; mostly shrub, sometimes a tree. Produces

stilt roots; long, narrow leaves are strong and fibrous and their edges

spinous. Male inflorescence with very fragrant bracts. Fruit large, multiple

type, water-dispersed (Figure 3.22).

Widely distributed along the coast.

20 Passifloraceae Passiflora foetida (Eng: Wild passion fruit): Tendril climber with lobed

simple leaves and round fruits.

Rare: Found at Hangallur in Kundapur taluk, Kali riverbank, at Makkeri.

21 Poaceae Cynodon dactylon (Karki grass): Common in estuaries.

Sporobolus virginicus: Perennial grass with very narrow leaves (Figure

3.23).

Aghanashini estuary: Hubbankeri and Keppekurve

22 Rhamnaceae Zizyphus mauritiana (Kan: Bugarimara): A small spinous tree with simple

leaves and orange-red edible fruits. Common.



Sl.

No.

Family Species

23 Rubiaceae Anthocephalus kadamba (Kan: Kadamba): Large tree with big opposite

leaves and round head of flowers the size of a badminton ball.

Rare along the coast, Aghanashini estuary at Mankon.

Morinda citrifolia (Kan: Ainshe, Tagase): Small tree with large,

opposite, simple leaves, dense heads of white flowers and the inferior

ovaries of which merge to form lemon sized multiple fruit; each fruit

let is visible as a protrusion (Figure 3.24).

Once common along the coast today it has become rare as it is a much

sought after medicinal plant. Observed at Haleyangidi and Chitrapu in

Mulki taluk on the bank of Gangoli estuary in Kundapur taluk.

24 Salvadoraceae Salvadora persica (Kan: Gonimara): Much branched shrub or small tree;

leaves fleshy, small. Flowers small in panicles; fruits small, green to

purplish to dark blue (Figure 3.25).

Bank of Aghanashini estuary of Kumta; Gudikoppa, Keppekurve,

Mudangi. Kali river estuary, at Kadvad, Sadhashivgad.

25 Verbenaceae Clerodendrum inerme, (Kan: Siritmari): Gregarious shrub with strong

smelling leaves and white flowers (Figure 3.26).

Common along estuarine bunds and on drier lands; also common as a

hedge plant

Premna corymbosa (Kan: Agnimanda): A large, strong smelling,

climbing shrub with opposite simple leaves and small greenish flowers

in corymbose clusters; common.

Vitex negundo (Kan: Nukki, Lakki): Gregarious, strong smelling, shrub

with, 4 angled stem and opposite, palmate, usually five-foliate leaves

and clusters of small blue flowers (Figure 3.27); common.

Vitex trifolia ((Kan: Nukki, Lakki): Gregarious shrub with strong

smelling, opposite, trifoliate leaves and blue flowers (Figure 3.28).

In many places along the coast, but more on seashores.

26 Vitaceae Vitis trifolia: A tendril climber with toothed trifoliate leaves



Figure 3.1. Hygrophila schulli Figure 3.2. Cerbera manghas in

flowers Figure 3.3. Cerbera manghas in

fruits

Figure 3.4. Borassus flabellifer

Figure 3.5. Dolichondron spathacea

in flowers

Figure 3.6. D. spathacea in fruits

Figure 3.7. Craeteva magna Figure 3.8. Calophyllum inophyllum Figure 3.9. Cyperus malaccensis,

Chakra river

Figure 3.10. C. malaccensis,

flowers Figure 3.11. Fimbristylis ferruginea Figure 3.12. Mariscus javanicus



Figure 3.13. Diospyros

embryopteris Figure 3.14. Acacia farnesiana Figure 3.15. Caesalpinia

bondusella

Figure 3.16. Derris trifoliata fruits Figure 3.17. Derris trifoliata flowers Figure 3.18. Mucuna pruriens

Figure 3.19. Pongamia pinnata Figure 3.20. Hibiscus tiliaceus Figure 3.21. Thespesia populnea

Figure 3.22. Pandanus fascicularis Figure 3.24. Morinda citrifolia Figure 3.23. Sporobolus virginicus



Figure 3.25. Vitex trifolia Figure 3.26. Clerodendrum inerme Figure 3.27. Vitex negundo

Figure 3.25. Salvadora persica

chapter 3 mangrove associates€¦ · 3.1 mangroves species: the names of plant species that live...

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