This is one of the most common mangrove plants. These plants often grow together to form a thicket that can be up to 4 m tall.

Roots: No obvious above-ground roots.

Leaves: The leaves are oval and about 7 cm long. There are glands on the leaves for secreting salt.

Flowers and Fruit: The flowers are small, white, arranged in bunches and smell like rotten bananas. The propagules are up to 5 cm long, pencil thick, slightly curved and have a pointed tip. The end of the fruit that is attached to the tree has a spiral patterned cap. The fruits are green, ripening to red in the summer months.

Bark: Smooth, grey bark.

Similar species: It is possible to confuse this species with the Black Mangrove (Lumnitzera species). Leaves of the River Mangrove do not have an indentation at their leaf tip and leaves of the Black Mangrove do not have salt glands.

Location: Found on river banks over a wide range of salinities.