Mangroves

Tumu kecil

Bruguiera parviflora

IUCN: LC

Tumu kecil (Bruguiera parviflora) is a mangrove of the family Rhizophoraceae recorded in the biodiversity data of PRPM Mengare.

It is one of 22 species in the group “Mangroves” recorded at the site, and one of 10 species of the family Rhizophoraceae.

How to recognise it

Form: Small to medium tree, 7–20 m tall, straight trunk, rough grey-brown bark.
Roots: Medium-sized knee roots around the trunk base.
Leaves: Opposite, narrowly elliptic, 6–12 cm, glossy green, pointed tip; black dots underneath.
Flowers: Single flowers in the leaf axils; small (parviflora means “small-flowered”) greenish-white flowers with a calyx tube of 8–10 lobes.
Fruit & seed: Slim hypocotyl, 10–15 cm long, fairly straight to slightly curved.

Did you know?

Parviflora means “small-flowered”, which sets it apart from B. gymnorhiza and B. hainesii with their large, showy flowers. It is less eye-catching but helps stabilise tidal riverbanks. Coastal communities sometimes use the wood as fuel.