Sonneratia caseolaris | |
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Unripened mangrove apple | |
Bud of mangrove apple | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Clade: | Rosids |
Order: | Myrtales |
Family: | Lythraceae |
Genus: | Sonneratia |
Species: | S. caseolaris
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Binomial name | |
Sonneratia caseolaris | |
Synonyms[2] | |
List
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Sonneratia caseolaris, commonly known as mangrove apple,[3] is a species of plant in the family Lythraceae. The fruit is noted for its outward similarity to the persimmon fruit.[4]
This tree is a type of mangrove growing up to 20 m in height and with a trunk reaching a maximum diameter of 50 cm. It is present in tropical tidal mud flats from Africa to Indonesia, southwards down to northeast Australia and New Caledonia and northwards up to Hainan Island in China and the Philippines.
The fruit of this tree is the subject of a legend of Maldivian folklore, Kulhlhavah Falu Rani. Kuhlhavah (ކުއްޅަވައް) is the Dhivehi name for the mangrove apple (Sonneratia caseolaris). [5]
The tree is associated with congregating fireflies throughout southeast Asia[6] and is the food source of moth and other insects.
Naturia
was invoked but never defined (see the help page).