Botanical Name: Aegiceras corniculatum
Family: Primulaceae
Kingdom:Plantae
Order: Ericales
Genus: Aegiceras
Species: A. corniculatum
Synonyms:
*Rhizophora corniculata Linnaeus
*Aegiceras fragrans
*Aegiceras majus
*Aegiceras malaspinaea
Common Names: Khalsi, Black mangrove, River mangrove, Goat’s horn mangrove
Habitat: The plant grows in coastal and estuarine areas ranging from India through South East Asia to southern China, New Guinea and Australia.
Description:
Aegiceras corniculatum grows as a shrub or small tree up to 7 metres (23 ft) high, though often considerably less. Its leaves are alternate, obovate, 30–100 millimetres (1.2–3.9 in) long and 15–50 millimetres (0.59–1.97 in) wide, entire, leathery and minutely dotted. Its fragrant, small, white flowers are produced as umbellate clusters of 10–30, with a peduncle up to 10 mm long and with pedicels 10–18 millimetres (0.39–0.71 in) long. The calyx is 2–4 millimetres (0.079–0.157 in) long and corolla 4–6 millimetres (0.16–0.24 in) long. The fruit is curved and cylindrical or horn-shaped, light green to pink in colour and 20–75 millimetres (0.79–2.95 in) long. It grows in mud in estuaries and tidal creeks, often at the seaward edge of the mangrove zone.
The species is of interest to many moths, including species from the genera Anarsia, Archips and Phyllocnistis, as well as the species Darna trima, Gonodontis clelia and Neurozerra conferta.
Cultivation:
A plant of the moist to wet, lowland tropics. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 18 – 26°c, but can tolerate 7 – 35°c. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,000 – 2,000mm, but tolerates 800 – 4,000mm.
Grows best in a sunny position. Prefers a fertile soil on the heavy side. Tolerant of saline soils. Prefers a pH in the range 6.8 – 7.2, tolerating 6.5 – 7.5. Plants can withstand periodic inundation of the soil.
Propagation: Through seeds.
Medicinal Uses:
Aegiceras corniculatum extract has analgesic properties which supports a fight against diabetes. The stems of the plant contain up to seven compounds, including: 2-methoxy-3-nonylresorcinol, 5-O-ethylembelin, 2-O-acetyl-5-O-methylembelin, 3,7-dihydroxy-2,5-diundecylnaphthoquinone, 2,7-dihydroxy-8-methoxy-3,6-diundecyldibenzofuran-1,4-dione, 2,8-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-3,9-diundecyldibenzofuran-1,4-dione (6), and 10-hydroxy-4-O-methyl-2,11-diundecylgomphilactone.
Other Uses: The wood is hard and heavy, ranging in colour from reddish-brown to almost black. It is used for knife handles.
The wood is used for fuel.The plant helps soil erotion.
Known Hazards: The bark contains aegiceras-saponin and is used as a fish poison.
Disclaimer : The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplement, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.
Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aegiceras_corniculatum
https://tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Aegiceras+corniculatum
