Apple mangrove (Sonneratia caseolaris)

Pidada or apple mangrove (Sonneratia caseolaris) is a species of plant in the Lythraceae, evergreen tree, wide crown, up to 20 meters high, cream to brown bark with fine horizontal cracks, thick roots and appears in the form of rather thick pointed cones.

S. caseolaris has leaves sitting opposite each other, thick, oval or inverted oval, 5-10 long, 3-9 cm wide, wide rounded tips, often curved and the stems are often red.

The flowers are red, ephemeral, fully developed after 20.00 at night (nocturnal) and contain a lot of nectar. The fruit has a diameter of 6-8 cm, green, smooth surface, stemmed tip, cup-shaped petals that cover the base of the fruit and sour taste. The seeds are numerous and flat.

This species grows in brackish areas in mangrove forests and muddy soil along small rivers with slow flowing water and is influenced by tides and lots of sunlight, temperature 20-30C, rainfall 1500-2500 mm/year and pH 6.7-7 ,3.

This plant is a pioneer in mangrove forests, often growing in the sea but in parts that are protected from direct waves. The fruit floats in water and is spread by sea currents and tides.

This wood is durable in sea water and is often used for boat decks. Young leaves are eaten raw or boiled. The fruit is astringent and sour, eaten when it starts to soften and used as a seasoning for fish dishes.

Plants contain alkaloids, terpenoids, steroids, phenolics (gallic acid, 2 luteolin flavonoids, luteolin 7-O-ß-glycoside), pectin, tannins, saponins, nyasol, maslinic acid. Often used as a hemostatic, a medicine for sprains, swelling, wounds and bruises, worms, coughs, smallpox, bloody urine and a stimulant.

Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum: Tracheophyta
Subphylum: Angiospermae
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Myrtales
Family: Lythraceae
Genus: Sonneratia
Species: Sonneratia caseolaris

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