Species: Rhizophora stylosa

Status (IUCN): Least concern. However, mangrove forests are considered highly significant ecological communities and are overall in decline in many areas due to localised threats and climate change.

Characteristics

• Height:  Up to 3 – 5m high in cooler climate but can reach 15 – 30m in the tropics.
• Roots: Stilt or prop roots that arise from the trunk or branches and then grow toward the soil, developing an underground root system. The stilt-like roots are covered in lenticels (air pores) that assist with gas exchange.  They grow vertically and spread out from the trunk, enabling the mangrove roots to breathe in the intertidal zone.
• Trunk: Dense, erect and bark is rough and reddish brown.
• Leaf Identification:  Obovate to elliptic, (broad with a sharp abrupt terminal point),  6–14 cm long, 3–8 cm wide, thick and leathery. Arranged opposite to one another on the stems but leaves also grow in clusters at the end of branches. 
• Leaf Colour: Glossy, smooth dark green on the upper side and waxy, light green to yellowish on the reverse side, with special glands for excreting excess salt. Reverse side is usually spotted with brownish-reddish dots.
• Flowers: White to varying tones of yellow, from pale to dark. In clusters.
• Fruits and seeds: Brown and 3-5 cm small. Ovoid to pear-shaped. The seeds (propagules) start to grow their sprouts in the fruit, vertically.

Reproduction: Bisexual flowers may appear most of the year but occur predominantly in the winter. As a viviparous species, the seeds (propagules) partially germinate in the fruits while still attached to the tree, allowing for quick establishment once they settle. Once they are fully grown, they detach from the fruits and dart into the ground, developing the roots soon after.  If the propagules fall into the water instead of the soil, they disperse from the parent tree by tidal water movement.

Habitat: Intertidal zones with soft muddy and sandy soils such as the seashore, wetlands, and the margins of tidal estuaries, creeks and rivers. They occur low in the intertidal zones, and their roots get submerged at high tides. They are usually found with the grey mangrove species.