List of mangroves of Sri Lanka
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Location of Sri Lanka
The mangroves of Sri Lanka are a part of the diverse brackish water plant wildlife of Sri Lanka.
Contents
1 Mangrove
2 True Mangroves
2.1 Family Acanthaceae
2.2 Family Amaranthaceae
2.3 Family Arecaceae
2.4 Family Combretaceae
2.5 Family Cyperaceae
2.6 Family Euphorbiaceae
2.7 Family Fabaceae
2.8 Family Lythraceae
2.9 Family Meliaceae
2.10 Family Primulaceae
2.11 Family Rhizophoraceae
2.12 Family Rubiaceae
3 Mangrove Associates
3.1 Family Aizoaceae
3.2 Family Amaranthaceae
3.3 Family Apocynaceae
3.4 Family Arecaceae
3.5 Family Asteraceae
3.6 Family Bignoniaceae
3.7 Family Convolvulaceae
3.8 Family Fabaceae
3.9 Family Goodeniaceae
3.10 Family Lamiaceae
3.11 Family Lythraceae
3.12 Family Malvaceae
3.13 Family Pteridaceae
3.14 Family Tamaricaceae
4 References
5 External links
Mangrove
Mangroves are shrubs or small trees that normally grow in varied regions of tropical and subtropical coastal waters, where saline water and freshwater normally meets. The zone is typically known as brackish water. Mangroves are halophytes, which adapted to harsh coastal life conditions. They contain a complex salt filtration system and complex root system to cope with salt water immersion and wave action. They are adapted to the low oxygen (anoxic) conditions of waterlogged mud.[1]
The mangrove ecosystem or commonly mangal, is found at the river mouths bordering lagoons, estuaries, or on sheltered shores.[2] Some of the most common adaptations of mangroves are as follows:
- They have prop roots which emerge from branches and stilt roots which emerge from the stem. Both roots help to anchor the plant and to filer salt.
- Some roots known as pneumatophores grow upwards from the soil. They have numerous apertures through which exchange of gases takes place. Some species have knee roots that perform the function.
- All mangroves show the germination process called vivipary. Because of the unfavorable conditions, hypocotyl of the seed grows, while it is still attaches to the parent plant. When it is released, it either gets stuck in the mud or floats upright before it settles down.
- Mangrove plants show xeromorphic characters such as highly cutinized epidermis, extensive water storage tissues, and presence of salt-excreting glands.
Mangroves swamps possess numerous ecological functions. Mangroves tend to accumulate sediment. Fine particles trapped in the root systems become permanently deposited. They are also very productive communities with an aquatic productivity and litter fall. Most of the plant material gradually decays and enriches the adjacent waters through detritus food chains. Therefore mangrove ecosystems is called energy-subsidized ecosystem. They serve as nursery grounds to many marine fish and crustaceans. Mangrove timber is valuable since it contains tannins and is resistant to insect attacks. Mangrove clams and oysters are a source of lime and food, as well as fish and crustaceans.[3]
Sri Lanka is an island, which serves a great diversity of lagoons, and estuaries. This enhances a well developed mangrove ecosystem throughout the belt of costal area.[4] About 28 species of true mangroves and 18 mangrove associates have been recorded and many of them are shrubs, shorter than 10m.[5][6] Most of the mangroves of Sri Lanka belongs to family Rhizophoraceae and Avicenniaceae. Mangrove associates are largely belongs to family Acanthaceae.[7][8]
True Mangroves
Family Acanthaceae
- Acanthus ilicifolius
- Avicennia officinalis
- Avicennia marina
Family Amaranthaceae
- Salicornia brachiata
Family Arecaceae
- Nypa fruticans
Family Combretaceae
- Lumnitzera littorea
- Lumnitzera racemosa
Family Cyperaceae
Blysmus rufus - previously as Scirpus litoralis
Family Euphorbiaceae
- Excoecaria agallocha
- Excoecaria indica
Family Fabaceae
- Cynometra iripa
- Derris trifoliata
Family Lythraceae
- Sonneratia alba
- Sonneratia apetala
- Sonneratia caseolaris
Family Meliaceae
- Xylocarpus granatum
- Xylocarpus rumphii
Family Primulaceae
- Aegiceras corniculatum
Family Rhizophoraceae
- Bruguiera cylindrica
- Bruguiera gymnorhiza
- Bruguiera sexangula
- Ceriops tagal
- Ceriops decandra
- Rhizophora apiculata
- Rhizophora mucronata
Family Rubiaceae
- Scyphiphora hydrophyllacea
Mangrove Associates
Family Aizoaceae
- Sesuvium portulacastrum
Family Amaranthaceae
- Suaeda maritima
- Suaeda nudiflora
Family Apocynaceae
- Cerbera odollam
- Cerbera manghas
Family Arecaceae
- Phoenix zeylanica
Family Asteraceae
- Sphaeranthus indicus
Family Bignoniaceae
- Dolichandrone spathacea
Family Convolvulaceae
- Ipomoea pes-caprae
Family Fabaceae
Vachellia farnesiana - previously as Acacia farnesiana
Family Goodeniaceae
- Scaevola taccada
Family Lamiaceae
Volkameria inermis - previously as Clerodendrum inerme
Family Lythraceae
- Pemphis acidula
Family Malvaceae
- Heritiera littoralis
- Hibiscus tiliaceus
- Thespesia populnea
Family Pteridaceae
- Acrostichum aureum
Family Tamaricaceae
- Tamarix indica
References
^ "What is a "mangrove" forest?". National Ocean Service | NOAA | Department of Commerce. Retrieved 18 October 2016..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}
^ "Mangroves". National Geographic Society. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
^ "Benefits/Uses of Mangroves". Mangroves Project Site. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
^ "MANGROVES IN SRI LANKA" (PDF). Sciscitator 2015 / Volume 2. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
^ "MANGROVES, Sri Lanka - Botanical Names → Sinhala names උද්භිද නම් → සිංහල නම්". dh-web. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
^ "Checklist of Mangrove species of South East India and Sri Lanka". amap-collaboratif. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
^ Pinto, Leonard. "Mangroves of Sri Lanka" (PDF). National Science Foundation of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
^ "A Guide to the mangrove flora of Sri Lanka". Department of Botany, University of Peradeniya, 2006 (2006). Retrieved 18 October 2016.
External links
- Information Brief on Mangroves in Sri Lanka
