White Mangrove (Avicennia alba)

• Scientific Name: Avicennia alba — White Mangrove or White Avicennia.

• Native Home: India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Southeast Asia, southern China, northern Australia, and parts of the western Pacific.

• Height: Typically 5–15 m, occasionally growing taller under favorable conditions.

• Lifespan: Several decades; longevity depends on habitat and environmental conditions.

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Uses and Harvesting

• Timber: Wood has been used locally for small construction projects and other practical purposes.

• Harvesting: Wood has historically been collected for fuel, and leaves have been used as fodder in some regions. Harvesting should comply with local mangrove-protection laws.

• Age to Harvest: No universal commercial harvest age; growth depends on salinity, tidal conditions, and site productivity.

• Products: Fuelwood, fodder, traditional plant materials, honey-related resources, and coastal-restoration seedlings.

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History and Global Production

• Traditional Use: Flowers provide nectar for honey production, while leaves have been used as fodder. Some communities have also used plant parts in traditional preparations.

• Global Spread: Found in tropical Indo-Pacific mangrove forests, particularly estuaries, tidal riverbanks, and newly formed muddy shores. Its numerous pencil-shaped breathing roots help it survive in waterlogged soils and stabilize newly deposited sediment.

  BSI

  +1