Conocarpus erectus
Syn. Conocarpus procumbens, Conocarpus erectus var. procumbens
Gray mangrove • Mang gri • Button mangrove • Mangle botón
Mangrove tree that can grow in a variety of conditions
French names: Gray mangrove, gray mangle, guadeloupe oak, seaside mangrove, seaside olive, mangrove, red mangrove, red mangle, mangrove, button tree, button wood, mangle mangrove
Creole names: Mang gri, olivyé bod lanmé, mang wouj, paltivyé, paltivyé wouj, paltivyé bod lanmè
English names: Gray mangrove, button mangrove, button wood, button bush, west indian alder, runnin' mallet, cockroach bush, water grass, button tree, mangle, silver dollar
Spanish names: Mangle boton, botoncillo, hana salvia, mangle botoncillo, mangle negro, mangle prieto, marequito, zaragosa
FAMILY
COMBRETACEAE
ETYMOLOGY
Cono-carpus means "cone-fruit", in relation to the shape of the fruit and erectus "upright, straight, erect".
Mangrove comes from the Tupi aparahiwa , (apara, curve and iba, tree) then appariturier , then pareturier , meaning “lying tree”.
It is called “gray” mangrove tree in relation to the color of its bark.
ORIGIN
Tropical America and West Africa.
HABITAT
Low mangrove, high mangrove, edge of mangrove, beach, sandy soil, on rocks subject to spray or on the edge of cliffs.
Altitude 0-10m.
DESCRIPTION
Shrub growing in the outer part of the mangroves, in an elevated position above sea level. Depending on the conditions, it can measure from 1.5 to 10m in height.
Its port is upright, sometimes spread out to semi prostrate on rocky ground. Its bark is fissured, gray or reddish.
The branches are glabrous and angled. The leaves are alternate, elongated, pointed and with a short petiole.
The flowers are tiny and grouped in balls, or very dense terminal glomeruli.
Flowering takes place from April to July. It gives small red brown fruits, brown when ripe, composed of multiple seeds. They look like little pine cones.
Fruiting takes place all year round.
There is a variety with gray velvety leaves, cultivated for ornament, called "Silver Mangle or Silver tree".
NEEDS
It is resistant to drought and temporary flooding .
It supports any type of soil , but it prefers rocky or sandy soils with little salt.
Exposure: Full sun.
Hardiness: 10b to 11 (1.7 to 4.5°C).
MULTIPLICATION
Seeds and cuttings.
Smothering is a good method of propagation.
CULTURE AND MAINTENANCE
Prick out the young plants in a bucket filled with a draining substrate and place it in a cup of water, in partial shade at the start. It likes heat and humidity.
Once the root ball is made, repot it in a larger pot and put it in the sun.
A maintenance pruning will be necessary (prune the branches that cross, the dry branches as well as those that unbalance the habit of the shrub).
There aren't really any known enemies.
If you are in a temperate climate, bring it in during the winter.
USES
MEDICINAL USE
Wounds, cuts and diarrhea (Source: Caribbean medicinal plants - Dr Longuefosse)
ORNAMENTAL USE
Very nice indoor and vivarium plant. Can be planted as an isolated subject or in a rocky bed.
FOOD USE
Any.
OTHER USES
The wood was used to smoke fish and meat.
ANECDOTES
Resists salt and urban pollution.
SOURCES
- Illustrated flora of the phanerogams of Guadeloupe and Martinique - Jacques Fournet - CIRAD GONDWANA EDITIONS - T1 P871
- Discovering the mangroves and the swamp forest of the West Indies - PLB Editions - P31
- Plants, habitats and landscapes of the French West Indies - Claude Sastre and Anne Breuil - Parthenocope collection - P78
- Caribbean medicinal plants - Dr Jean-Louis Longuefosse - T3 P168
- http://jardin.98905.com/plants-flowers-herbs/trees/1007027194.html