Rhizophora
(from rhiza, a root, and phoreo, to bear; the branches emit roots freely, and these descend into the mud in which the tree grows). Mangrove. ORD. Rhizophoreae. A genus comprising two (or four or five) species of stove trees, inhabiting tropical shores and mud swamps. Flowers rather large, sessile or pedicellate, on axillary, bi-or trichotomously branched peduncles. Leaves opposite, petiolate, thickly coriaceous, ovate or elliptic, entire, glabrous. "In the economy of Nature, the Mangrove performs a most important part, wresting annually fresh portions of the land from the dominion of the ocean, and adding them to the domain of man. This is effected in a twofold manner: by the progressive advance of their roots, and by the aerial germination of their seeds, which do not quit their lofty cradle till they have assumed the form of actual trees, and drop into the water with their roots ready prepared to take possession of the mud, in advance of their parent stems" (Dr. Wm. Hamilton, in the "Pharmaceutical Journal"). R. Mangle has been introduced to this country, but is difficult to cultivate.