Gubat Mangrove Species

7 major mangrove species in the municipality of Gubat

Sonneratia alba (Pagatpat)

Description: Sonneratia alba is a mangrove tree in the family Lythraceae. The specific epithet alba is from the Latin meaning "white", referring to the flowers.

Benefits and Uses: The wood of Sonneratia alba is used in Kenya and Tanzania for carpentry, canoes, boat ribs, paddles, masts, floats, and window and door frames. It is further used as firewood and for charcoal production. In Madagascar the wood is preferred for making paddles. In tropical Asia the wood is used for house building, ship building, piles of bridges, sleepers, paving blocks, flooring, furniture and sporting goods. Sulphate pulp of the wood is suitable for making paper. The sour fruits are eaten raw or cooked and used to make vinegar. Leaves are used for camel fodder in Kenya. The bark is locally used as a brownish dye and for tanning leather and fishing nets.

Sonneratia ovata (Pedada)

Local Name: Pedada
Scientific Name: Sonneratia Ovata
Description: Sonneratia ovata is an evergreen tree with a columnar crown; it can grow up to 10 metres tall with occasional specimens to 20 metres. The bole, which is usually short and twisted, is up to 20cm in diameter. The tree produces thin, pointed pneumatophores (vertical roots arising above the ground from shallow, horizontal roots) about 20cm tall.
Benefits and Uses: The fruits are edible, though they taste very sour. Because of their acidity they are sometimes used as substitutes for vinegar. The fermented juice is believed to check haemorrhages. The fruit is applied in poultices to relieve sprain. The plant can be used to control erosion of tidal river banks. The bark contains tannin, but in amounts too small for commercial exploitation. The wood has been described as moderately hard to very hard and moderately heavy to heavy. The wood is used as firewood

Avicennia marina (Piyapi)

Local Name: Piyapi
Scientific Name: Avicennia marina
Description: Avicennia marina, commonly known as grey mangrove or white mangrove, is a species of mangrove tree classified in the plant family Acanthaceae (formerly in the Verbenaceae or Avicenniaceae). As with other mangroves, it occurs in the intertidal zones of estuarine areas.
Benefits and Uses: The cotyledons of the seed are occasionally eaten, but may contain toxic compounds. They need to be cooked. White mangrove is used in traditional medicine. Research has shown that several medically active components are present in the plant including iridoid glucosides, flavonoids and naphthoquinone derivatives. Some of these have shown strong antiproliferative and moderate cytotoxic activities as well as antibacterial effects.

Rhizophora apiculata (Bakawan lalaki)

Local Name: Bakawan lalaki
Scientific Name: Rhizophora anpiculata
Description: Rhizophora apiculata, as well as Rhizophora mucronata, is used to make charcoal in the charcoal kilns of Kuala Sepetang in Perak, Malaysia. Rhizophora apiculata is used for mangrove plantation specially for wood charcoal production in many parts of Thailand; Yeesarn village of Smaut Songkram Province for instance.
Benefits and Uses: The wood of R. apiculata can be split easily and has a high energy value, making it in great demand as firewood and for making charcoal. In recent years it has been extensively harvested for production of wood chips in East Malaysia and Indonesia. R. apiculata is the preferred species in replanting programmes in most mangrove regions in South-East Asia. Poles are used for piling and construction purposes, and as fishing stakes. The timber is suitable for making furniture.

Rhizophora mucronata (Bakawan babae)

Local Name: Bakawan babae
Scientific Name: Rhizophora mucronata
Description: Rhizophora mucronata is a slow-growing, much-branched, evergreen tree growing up to 27 metres tall, with a bole 50 - 70 cm in diameter. The tree produces numerous stilt roots from the base. The tree is an important local source of tannins and fuel, mainly gathered from the wild but also semi-cultivated in some areas.
Benefits and Uses: The fruit is occasionally eaten. It is prepared by first boiling it, then adding wood ashes to neutralize the bitter taste. The fruit is then baked and eaten. Used occasionally as a medicine in cases of haematuria. This probably refers to the bark. A part of the mangrove swamps, the tree helps to protect inland areas from the effects of the ocean, including stabilizing the shore line and giving protection from strong winds and storms. The bark is an important local source of tannin. It is used for tanning leather and to toughen and dye lines, nets, and ropes used by fishermen.

Rhizophora stylosa (Bakawan bato)

Local Name: Bakawan bato
Scientific Name: Rhizophora stylosa
Description: Red mangrove is a tree with a glossy green, quite compact crown; it can grow 8 - 30 metres tall. The tree often branches from low down, and can have more than one bole, which can be 25 - 60cm in diameter. The tree has looping pneumatophores extending for several metres over the ground and aerial roots descending from the stem and branches. The tree is sometimes harvested from the wild for its latex and wood.
Benefits and Uses: A red latex obtained from the plant is used as a hair dye and to paint pottery. The wood is hard and durable. It is little used due to its small dimensions. The stilt roots are flexible and were traditionally used for making bows. The wood is used for fuel and to make charcoal.
Aegeceras corniculatum (Saging-saging)

Local Name: Saging-saging
Scientific Name: Aegeceras corniculatum
Description: Aegiceras corniculatum is an evergreen shrub or small tree growing up to about 6 metres tall. The plant is sometimes harvested from the wild for its wood, which is used locally to make small items. The bark contains aegiceras-saponin and is used as a fish poison.
Benefits and Uses: The wood is hard and heavy, ranging in colour from reddish-brown to almost black. It is used for knife handles. The wood is used for fuel.

Other Mangrove Associate

Nypa fruticans (Nipa)

Source: PCFRA Result Gubat

Gubat Mangrove Sites