Cannonball Mangrove
(Xylocarpus granatum)

The Cannonball Mangrove gets its name from its large cannonball-shaped fruit (sometimes known as monkey-puzzle nuts). These trees can grow to 25 m tall.

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

Leaves: Leaves are oval-shaped and thickened at the base where they meet the stem. This thickening allows the leaves to either face or avoid the sun.

Flowers and Fruit: Small pink flowers. The large, round fruit, containing 12 to 18 tightly packed seeds, ripens to a golden-brown colour. The seeds are often seen on the beaches of north Queensland.

Bark: Mottled pink-orange bark which is smooth but flakes off (see illustration opposite).

Similar species: The Cedar Mangrove (Xylocarpus mekongensis) has similar leaves but has snorkel-like roots, smaller fruit, and brown, fissured bark.

Location: Usually found in river systems of the wet tropics.