Mangrove apple facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mangrove apple |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Unripened mangrove apple | |
 |
|
| Bud of mangrove apple | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Sonneratia
|
| Species: |
caseolaris
|
| Synonyms | |
|
List
|
|
The mangrove apple (scientific name: Sonneratia caseolaris) is a special type of plant. It belongs to the Lythraceae family. Its fruit looks a lot like a persimmon.
This tree is a kind of mangrove. It can grow very tall, up to 20 meters high. Its trunk can be as wide as 50 centimeters. You can find mangrove apples in warm, tropical places. They grow in tidal mud flats from Africa all the way to Indonesia. They also grow south to northeast Australia and New Caledonia. Northwards, they reach Hainan Island in China and the Philippines.
The fruit of the mangrove apple is part of a famous story. It's a legend from Maldivian folklore called Kulhlhavah Falhu Rani. In the Maldives, the fruit is known as Kuhlhavah (ކުއްޅަވައް).
This tree is also a popular spot for fireflies. Many fireflies gather around these trees in Southeast Asia. The tree also provides food for moths and other insects.
Discover the Mangrove Apple's Uses
The leaves and fruit of the mangrove apple are edible. People in some areas, like the Maldives, enjoy eating them.
Tasty Treats from the Fruit
In Sri Lanka, the fruit is called kirala gédi (කිරල ගෙඩි). People there mix the fruit's soft inside with coconut milk. This makes a delicious milkshake. Many hotels in southern Sri Lanka offer fresh drinks made from this fruit. These trees grow a lot along the rivers there.
In the Maldives, people use the fruit to make a refreshing drink. They also eat the fruit with grated coconut and sugar.
The Mangrove Apple's Other Name: Cork Tree
Sometimes, the mangrove apple is called the cork tree. This is because fishermen use parts of it. They shape the tree's special roots, called pneumatophores, into small floats. These floats help their fishing nets stay on top of the water.
