Virginia Tech Dendrology

white mangrove Combretaceae Laguncularia racemosa (L.) C.F. Gaertn. symbol: LARA2
Leaf: Opposite, simple, elliptical, 1 1/2 to 3 inches long, evergreen, thickened, yellow green above and below, petiole often reddish with salt excreting glands at the base of leaf blade.
Flower: Small, pale green occurring on a slender spike from the leaf axils.
Fruit: Initially light green, resemble an elongated, ribbed vase, 1/2 inch long, occur in branched clusters.
Twig: Moderate in texture and light reddish brown; naked buds.
Bark: Long narrow interlacing flat, scaly, gray ridges; furrows reddish brown.
Form: Low sprawling trees to 50 feet, crooked trunk common, round crown. It forms dense thickets and may develop aerial roots if grown flooded.
Looks like: black mangrove - buttonwood - red mangrove - pond apple

Additional Range Information: Laguncularia racemosa is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. Download the full-size PDF map.
External Links: USDA Plants Database
All material © 2021 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range map source information