Agoho (Casuarina equisetifolia)

A beautiful, majestic, beach pine, the agoho has been seen to grow on the beach, inland, as well as in the cities (as in the streets of Malate and the South Luzon Expressway); Tall (20-25 meters) and distinct (needle-like leaves).  

Banalo or Malapuso (Thespesia Populnea)

A medium sized tree with a roundish, irregular crown, heart shaped leaves and a tight, dainty yellow flower, often observed solitary in open beach areas. Its flowers resemlbe the Malubago's but do not open as widely.

Bani or Baruk-Baruk (Pongamia Pinnata)

A spreading coastal tree whose trunk often branches out a few feet from the ground. It has pink clustered flowers that bloom even as the tree sheds its leaves. Large Baruk-baruks (around 25 meters) line the coastal highway of Dapitan. Many can also be found in the coastal areas of Camarines Sur.

Dapdap (Erythrina Indica)

For its large, red, exotic flowers it is cultivated and sometimes also called the flame tree. Medium sized, its bark is rough and light colored with fine black thorns on its trunk and branches.The Dapdap can also be seen inland, and along city streets of Metro Manila (as on the C5 in the Pasig area.)

Dangkalan or Bitaog (Calophyllum Inophyllum)

The Dangkalan's thick and dark green leaves make for a dense, deep cover. It's fruits are round, yellow-green and slightly smaller than golf-balls. Also observed to grow along coastal cliffsides.

 Malubago (Hibiscus Tiliaceus)

With a round, spreading crown, leaves are also heart shaped but rougher in texture compared to the Banalo and have a slight prickly feel. The malubago can be pruned into a large bush or will grow to a small tree, distinctively attractive with its exotic bright-yellow flowers.

Talisay (Terminalia Catappa)

The most versatile of species listed here, the Talisay can grow on sandy beaches by the shore, flooded river banks, inland, or on city streets. Ideal as the first species to plant when regenerating a greenbelt or a buffer zone as it can withstand harsh conditions despite the absence of surrounding foliage.  

Tuble (Derris Trifoliata)

A small shrub-like tree with leathery, light-green leaves similar to the phycus. Its small, pink flowers grow in clusters on long spikes.Ideal for landscaping in beach gardens.

Botong (Barringtonia Asiatica)

A large-leafed tree that is similar to the Talisay in appearance, but has large, aromatic flowers, with long pink-tipped filaments that are beautiful and highly attractive in bloom. Compared to the Talisay, its bark is smoother, its configuration is less angular, and is tidier looking as it does not shed its leaves as much. The large fruits are smaller than coconuts, rounded and cubish at one end and pointed towards the other. Fruits are easy to germinate and seedlings easy to transplant. The Botonghas been observed also to grow inland, along streams.

photo source: http//moorea.berkeley.edu/flora/photos/barringtonia_asiatica.jpg

Caballero or Flame Tree (Delonix Regia)

This specie has beautiful fiery-red-orange flowers that cover the entire crown of the tree during the summer months (as seen in the University campuses in Metro Manila like the Ateneo and the U.P. and along the Pangasinan highways on route to Baguio). Among the largest Caballeros along the coast can be seen in the sea-side hills of Culion island in Palawan.  

Madre de Cacao or Kakawate (GliricidiaSepium)

A good medium sized buffer tree, grows easily in sandy, moderately wind blown areas and can be propagated easily by directly planting cuttings from branches.

Sampaloc (Tamarindus Indica)

Grows to a towering 20-30 meters and makes for a beautiful shade tree: cool, light and breezy. Makes for comfortable picnic areas by the beach.

Pagatpat (Sonneratia Alba)

With roundish (obviate), blue-green leaves, the Pagatpat is a tall beautiful foreshore tree (i.e. it grows in areas of the beach that take in shallow, knee to waist high waters at high tide but are completely drained at low tide.) It is known to attract colonies of fireflies. It is ideal for areas with sandy-coraline coastal planes. These also grow well in ventral areas of reverted ponds alongside Avicennia Marina.

photo source: http://student.vub.ac.be/~dagillik/mangrove/images/key-images/s_alba_FR2.jpg

Bakawan Lalake, Babae of Bangkaw (Rhizophora Apiculata, Mucronata)

This family of mangroves are the most popularyly used for  mangrove reforestation projects, although are often mistakenly planted monoculture (plantation style) or in sea grass areas. Ideal for planting in erosion-prone areas of muddy banks (as the network of roots make for excellent soil catchers) and in the deep, central muddy-bottom areas of reverted ponds since the mature tree is propped up by its network of exposed roots and can therefore take several feet of flooding at the high tide; propagules are easy to collect and are best planted directly. 

photo source: http://bp2.blogger.com

Busain (Bruguiera Cylindrica)

These medium sized trees usually grow in the upper areas of riverbanks (not directly in the water, but which are occasionaly reached by very high tides). Can also be planted in the reverted ponds, in the peripheral areas which remain wet but not necessarily flooded.

photo source: http://bpo.blogger.com/dntHvgl5Ybs/RqrDF7TpGGI/AAAA

 Malatangal (Ceriops Decandra)

A shrub of medium height that grows to about 3 meters tall. These can be planted as a hedge on areas of more compact mud as in the inclined areas of reverted pond dikes.

Nipa (Nypa Fruticans)

These exotic palm fronds have no central trunk, and are easily identifiable in swampy or riverine areas; can be planted in dense clusters; they grow well at the water line of rivers or in areas that are regularly flooded (2-3 feet at high tide, possibly exposed or dry areas at low tide.)

Pipisik or Api-api (Avicennia Marina)

When full-grown, these are huge majestic trees with thick, light colored trunks (grey to light brown); With propagules germinating by the hundreds in rivers and ponds, this is the natural dominant specie in reverted ponds and may require thining when wildings mature. Ideal for planting at the shallow ends or portions of reverted ponds (between the edge or fringes of the ponds and the deep centers) or along riverbanks, in areas that are regularly flooded, but only with 1-2 feet of water at high tide and are exposed at low tide.

photo source: http://anbg.gov.au/images/photo_cd?818132512595/052_2.jpg

Tagasa (Ceriops Tagal)

A small tree that reaches to about 6 meters tall; makes for a pleasant grove when planted in clusters or rows because of its lean, upright stance. Its redish bark has many uses (e.g. to color tuba or fishnets; to treat hemmorages and ulcers). These grow on firm sandy areas and can be planted at the fringes of drier portions of reverted ponds.

photo source: http://bp3.blogger.com/.../Ceriops_tagal_fruit_01.jpg

Buli or Buri (Corypha Elata)

Tall majestic palms often distinctly identifiable from long distances with their crowns protruding through the surrounding treetops; grows well along riversides (dry, upper banks) and ideal for planting in former pond dikes or corner areas to mark property boundaries.

Dungon (Heritiera Littoralis)

A medium-sized tree, growing to about 20-30 meters, yielding a very hard wood that was used for building bridges and boats when the wood was still abundant. Mature trees have very prominent buttress roots (flat, canyon-like formations that form at the base of the tree). It has conspicuous nut-like fruits, which are ridged (as with a dorsal fin), shinny-green when fresh but chestnut brown when dried. Can be planted 2-5 feet away from the high water mark on the lower portions of reverted pond dikes or the edge of the mangrove forest which floods or tides only reach occassionaly.

photo source: http://tpbg.tfri.gov.tw/english/img/14-1-2_5.jpg

Nigi (Xylocarpium Granatum)

Medium sized trees that grow (up to 17m) along the river's edge or tidal creeks. Its large cannon ball-like fruit breaks up into several pieces that fit perfectly like a puzzle, each of which is a seed about the size of one's palm. In season, these seeds are found scattered along the beach in the hundreds. Very easy to germinate, these are ideal for planting at the edges or fringes of reverted ponds (5-10 feet away from the high water mark) in slightly elevated beds that remain damp by proximity to the water's edge.

photo source: http://mangrove.nus.edu.sg/guidebooks/photos/1234.jpg

Piagau (Xylocarpium Moluccencis)

A small tree that becomes prominent when its leaves turn autumn red before shedding. Its seeds can also be found littered on the beach, are similar to the Nigi but are more pyramidal and less rounded on the edges. Seldom found on creek or river beds, these grow better in the dryer, landward edges of the mangrove sections since they are less tolerant of salt. On a property of reverted ponds, these may be planted on the edge of the pond sections farthest from the beach, possibly on the lower banks of pond dikes

More photos, characteristics, and planting suggestions on each of these species will again be posted in the future. For questions pertaining to particular trees, write us at mangroves@essc.org.ph.