Heritiera fomes

Botanical Description

Heritiera fomes is an evergreen tree that can grow up to 25 metres tall. The bole can be 60cm or more in diameter, though larger boles are often faulty. Buttresses are present. The tree produces pneumatophores (breathing roots) up to 30cm high[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. , 1029 Title A Monograph of the Genus Heritiera, Aiton, (Sterculariaceae). Publication Reinwardtia Vol. 4, Part 4, pp 465 - 583 Author Kostermans A.J.G.H. Publisher Herbarium Bogoriense, Indonesia. Year 1959 ISBN Description Somewhat dated, but an excellent monograph of the genus Heritiera. It can be downloaded from the Internet. ]. The tree is commonly harvested from the wild for local use of its wood. It is a valuable commercial species that is grown in plantations for its wood[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ]. This species has a restricted distribution in South Asia and is found in the landward margin of mangroves - which is the area most threatened by coastal development. It can be locally common, but there has been an estimated population decline of 50% to 80% in the majority of its range (Malaysia) since the 1950s, primarily due to the clearing of mangroves for rice farming, shrimp aquaculture and coastal development. The plant is classified as 'Endangered' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013). However, populations in India and Bangladesh are rapidly declining and may qualify for Critically Endangered at a regional level[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].