Black Mangrove (Avicennia germinans)
Scientific Name: Avicennia germinans — Black Mangrove or Black Avicennia.
Native Home: Tropical and subtropical coasts of the Americas and western tropical Africa.
Height: Typically 3–15 m, sometimes reaching 20 m or more in favorable conditions.
Lifespan: Several decades; a reliable average lifespan is not well established.
Kew Science
+2
Uses and Harvesting
Timber: Durable wood traditionally used for posts, poles, piers, wharves, and other marine construction.
Harvesting: Wood has been collected for fuelwood and charcoal, while bark supplies tannins. Harvesting should comply with local mangrove-protection laws.
Age to Harvest: No universal commercial harvest age; growth varies with salinity, tidal conditions, and site productivity.
Products: Timber, charcoal, traditional tannin materials, honey, and coastal-restoration plants.
Ecocrop
+1
History and Global Production
Traditional Use: Coastal communities have used its wood for construction and fuel. Its flowers are also an important nectar source for honey production.
Global Spread: Found along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the Americas and the tropical Atlantic coast of Africa. It commonly grows on muddy or sandy tidal shores, often landward of red mangroves. Its upright, finger-like breathing roots help it survive in waterlogged soil and stabilize coastal sediments.
){kind=link}