Looking-glass Mangrove
(Heritiera littoralis)

With its white-grey bark and shaggy appearance, this tree stands out in a forest. It can attain heights of up to 30 m.

Roots: Buttresses at the base of the trunk and plank or ribbon type roots.

Leaves: Large (up to 30 cm long), dark green leaves that have a silvery-white undersurface.

Flowers and Fruit: Flowers are small and green. The fruits are about 7 cm long and have a prominent ridge, or keel, on one side. When the seed is floating this keel acts as a sail, probably aiding dispersal.

Bark: White-grey, cracked bark (see illustration opposite).

Similar species: None.

Location: This species is found at the landward edge of mangrove forests along rivers of the wet tropics where there is substantial freshwater influence.