Scientific Name: Avicennia marina var australasica

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  • Pronunciation:
    av-ee-SEN-ee-ah mah-REEN-ah
  • Common Name:
    White Mangrove Grey Mangrove
  • Derivation:
    Avicennia: Avicenna, 10th cent. Arabian philisopher and physician who meditated beside water marina: L. mare - sea
  • Type:
    Tree
  • Family:
    AVICENNIACEAE
  • Status:
    PROTECTED - permit required
  • Flowers:
    yellow, small, late summer
  • Fruit:
    Compressed capsule like green purse
  • Vegetation Type:
    Tidal Wetland.
  • Species List:
    Bush food, Craft, Biosphere Day Noosa Woods, Kingfisher Bay Resort, Fraser Island, Mangrove, Johns, Cooroibah Conservation Park, Cooroibah Bushland Reserve, Janet, Cranks Creek, Batianoff 87, Noosa Banks BHNR Lake Cooroibah West
Cultural Notes

TAKE CARE! Some information about bush foods and medicines may be anecdotal. Correct identification and preparation is essential:

Most common and widespread mangrove along mainland Australia. Timber hard strong and light. South of Couran Cove its still possible to find shield-shaped depressions in the bark of some grey mangroves. The fibres of this tough tree run at different angles in each growth ring making it a natural plywood giving a great resistance to splitting when struck by a spear or other weapon by warring opponents. Aborigines marked an outline of the shield on the mangroves bark and then cut around the shape.When wedges were driven into the cut the shield would separate easily from the tree.The leaves of another native plant the aptly named sandpaper fig could then be used to smooth the shield for use. Grazed by stock. Convicts burnt mangrove trees to produce ash for making soap. Ash has detergent action. Honey Production: extra light amber to light amber, honey source medium, pollen source medium occasionally major. Bush food: Seed structures rich food source after leaching out tanins. Baked for two hours. Promoted as gourmet food by Qld. Uni Botany Club.

Identification Notes

Leaf undersides greyish white, Surrounded by pencil-shaped pneumatephores (breathing roots)

Landscaping Notes

PROTECTED - permit required