Aegiceras Gaertn.

Timothy M. A. Utteridge and Laura V. S. Jennings (2022). Trees of New Guinea. Kew Publishing. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

Distribution

A small genus of two species distributed from India, China, through Malesia to Australia and the Pacific islands; both species are found in New Guinea.

Morphology General Habit

Shrubs or small trees

Morphology Leaves

Leaves alternate or subopposite, coriaceous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences terminal or rarely axillary, umbellate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers

Flowers bisexual, 5-merous; calyx deeply 5-lobed, persistent during fruiting; corolla campanulate, united into a tube, lobes ovate or ovate-lanceolate, imbricate in bud, recurved or reflexed at anthesis, glands indistinct or lacking; stamens 5, exserted, filaments united into a tube at the base, distal part free, exserted, anthers dehiscing longitudinally, transversely septate; ovary superior, ovules numerous, within a globose placenta; style elongated; stigma apiculate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Fruit elongated, terete, sickle-shaped, dehiscing longitudinally; seed large occupying whole cavity, germinating whilst still on the plant (viviparous).

Ecology

Members of this genus are trees or shrubs of coastal and estuarine habitats, including mangroves.

Recognition

It is the only member of the family found in mangroves in New Guinea, and is recognised by the coriaceous leaves which are usually obovate, the terminal inflorescences of white flowers with clearly reflexed corolla lobes, the anthers which are split longitudinally but are transversly septate within, the superior ovary and the distinctive sickle shaped, dry fruits with viviparous seeds.