Conocarpus erectus

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  • Herbarium No: UPH NO. 291
  • Conocarpus erectus
  • L.
  • Botanical Name/Scientific Name: Conocarpus erectus
  • Genus: Conocarpus
  • Synonym: Conocarpus erectus var. argenteus Millsp.
  • Common/Local Name(s): Buttonwood or Button Mangrove
  • Family: Combretaceae
  • Botanical Description: Conocarpus erectus,can grow as a dense shrub or a tree, depending on its environment and pruning practices. As a tree, it typically reaches heights of 6 to 12 meters (20 to 40 feet), but can grow taller under ideal conditions. The tree has a sturdy trunk with rough, grey to reddish-brown bark that can become deeply fissured with age. The leaves are simple, alternate, and usually lanceolate to oblong in shape. They measure about 3 to 10 cm (1.2 to 4 inches) in length. Leaves are thick and leathery, typically a dark green color, and have a glossy surface with smooth margins. They are salt-excreting, which allows the plant to thrive in saline environments. The flowers of the Buttonwood are small and inconspicuous, arranged in dense, cone-shaped or cylindrical spikes. They lack petals and are primarily wind-pollinated. Color and Shape: Flowers are usually greenish to yellowish-white and produce nectar that attracts insects, despite the plant being primarily wind-pollinated. Fruits and Seeds The fruit is a small, button-like aggregate of achenes, hence the common name. These fruits are typically clustered along the spike-like inflorescences. Mature fruits are woody, reddish-brown, and persist on the tree, adding to its ornamental value.
  • Flowering/Fruiting: Flowers from May to September.Fruiting period typically spans from August to December.
  • Plant Uses: Ecological Uses, Landscaping and Horticulture, Wood and Craft Uses and Medicinal Uses.
  • Origin: Introduced
  • Locality: Bodo West Oil Flow Station Rivers State.
  • Habit: Tree
  • Mode: Wild

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