This document provides information about the mangrove flora of Karnataka, India. It begins with background on the importance of coastal areas and mangroves. It then discusses what mangroves are, their global and national distribution, and the mangrove locations in Karnataka. Specific details are given on the mangrove flora found in the Kali River estuary, including that it contains 14 of Karnataka's 15 true mangrove species. The document outlines several unique biological adaptations of mangroves and then describes the floral diversity, listing many of the true mangrove plant species found in Karnataka along with details on their identifying characteristics. It concludes with discussing the ecological significance of mangroves.

1. MANGROVE FLORA OF
KARNATAKA
Presented in
Timi Kurm Festival (Whale-turtle Fesival)
18-20 October 2013 at
U.K. District Science Centre, Karwar
Organised by
Terra Marine Research Institute, India
Dr. M. Jayakara Bhandary
Associate Professor & Head
Department of Botany
Government Arts and Science College
Karwar – 581301
mbjaikar@gmail.com
www.gasck.ac.in

2. Coasts are very important!
 Coastal Areas of the
World - Resource Rich
 Most inhabited,
Exploited Geographical
Units
 Supports 50% Global
Population
 Provides 90% global
fish supply
 Sink for 90% of River
load/Pollutants
 Anything that
affects the Coastal
Ecological Balance
affect smajority of
People on Earth!

3. WHAT ARE MANGROVES?
Mangroves are generally salt tolerant plants growing
in the swampy mud of coastal areas.
They grow in intertidal zones of river mouths,
lagoons and creeks which form the estuaries where
river water mixes with seawater.
The evergreen mangrove trees and shrubs assemble
together to form dense mangrove forests along the
seashore.

4. Global Distribution….
120 tropical and
Sub tropical
Countries.
18.1 milion
ha.
Source: Spalding et al., 1997, The World Mangrove Atlas

5. Mangroves of India….
 Occurs along the East
Coast (80%) and West Coast
(20%).
 3-4% of Global Extent
 Area estimates range from
7 lac ha. to 3.6 lac ha.
 4,639 Km2 - 2007
 Sundarbans, Mahanadi
Delta, Picchavaram,
Cauvery Delta, GodavariKrishna Estuarine Complex,
Andaman-Nicobar Islands –
notable mangrove
locations.

6. Mangroves of Karnataka
• Official Estimates
2 - 3 Km2 Underestimated!
• Along estuaries,
Fringing Type
• Kali, Aghanashini,
Sharavathi,
Kundapura,
Nethravathi – main
locations
• Fragmented Patches

7. Mangroves of Kali
Estuary
14 out of 15 True
mangrove species
of Karnataka grow
here

8. Living between Sea & Land –
Special Features:
 Mangrove plants are equipped with many unique
biological adaptations which make them fit to survive
in the salt-rich, oxygen-poor soil periodically flushed
by tides, which is otherwise hostile to plants.
 Most important special features are:
 Dense network of aerial root system for breathing
(pneumatophores) and additional support (stilt
roots)
 Seeds germinating into seedlings while the fruits are
still attached to the mother plant (vivipary)
 Salt-filtering roots to absorb only pure water
 Salt glands in the leaves to excrete excess salt if
absorbed

9. Biological Speciality – Highly
adapted to mangrove habitats

11. Vivipary

12. Viviparous seed germination in mangroves

13. Viviparous seed germination in mangroves- contd.

14. Floral Diversity
 Global – About 90 species
 India
 East Coast – 60 species
 West Coast – 34 species
 Karnataka – 35 species
 True Mangroves- Exclusive mangroves
 Mangrove Associates – Also found
outside mangrove habitats
Rhizophoraceae, Avicenniaceae,
Sonneratiaceae – Major true mangrove
families

15. TRUE MANGROVE PLANTS Aegiceras corniculatum
(Myrsinaceae)
Large shrubs growing
in dense patches
Slender stilt roots
Leaves alternate,
spirally arranged
Dense umbellate
clusters of small,
fragrant white flowers
bunches of curved
propagules with
pointed tips, reddish
when mature.
Fl. All round the year

16. Acanthus ilicifolius
(Acanthaceae)
Shrubby plants
growing in dense
patches
Leaves with wavy
margin having sharp
spines
Large blue flowers at
the tips of branches
Bracts prominent, 4
seeded fruits.
Fl. March-June

17. Acrostichum aureum
Pteridaceae
(Mangrove Fern).
Pinnately compound
leaves, Rhizome erect.
Tender shoots and
rhizomes edible.

18. Avicennia marina
(Avicenniaceae)
Small trees with
white bark
Cluster of pencil-like
breathing
roots
around the stem
Leaves small with
acute tip
Cluster
of
small,
yellow flowers on
long stalks. Stamens
not projecting
Almond-like fruits with
shining silky surface

19. Avicennia officinalis
(Avicenniaceae)
Large trees with grayish
black bark
Cluster of pencil-like
breathing roots around
the stem
Leaves with rounded tip
Cluster of small, yellow
flowers on long stalks.
Stamens projecting out
Almond-like fruits with
shining silky surface.
Fl. May-June

20. Bruguiera gymnorhiza
(Rhizophoraceae)
Small trees with
buttresses and knee
roots
Leaves dark green,
stalk and midrib reddish
Flowers single, reddish,
many(12-18) calyx
lobes and petals
Propagules slightly
angled with blunt tip.
Fl. December-February

21. Bruguiera cylindrica
(Rhizophoraceae)

22. Excoecaria agallocha
(Euphorbiaceae)
Large shrubs with milky
latex
Stilt and breathing roots
absent
Leaves alternate, reddish
when old
Dense clusters of
minute, yellow, unisexual
flowers
Trilobed (soapnut –like)
fruits.
Fl. July-August

23. Sonneratia alba
(Sonneratiaceae)
Small trees with many
upward conical breathing
roots all around the stem
Leaves opposite, tip
rounded
Flowers large, white, calyx
cup-like with 6 lobes,
many long white stamens
Large apple-like fruits, flat
at the tip with short taillike style.
Fl. March-July

24. Sonneratia caseolaris
(Sonneratiaceae)
Large trees with many
upward conical breathing
roots all around the stem
Leaves opposite, tip
rounded with a pore, stalk
very short and pink
Flowers large, dark red,
calyx cup-like with 6
lobes, many long reddish
stamens
Large apple-like fruits,
with a long tail-like style
at the tip
Fl. October-December

25. Rhizophora apiculata
(Rhizophoraceae)
Trees with stilt roots
hanging from the base
of the stem
Leaves large, leathery
with a small bristle-like
point at the tip
Pairs of creamish
flowers without stalk,
calyx lobes 4, stamens
12
Long hanging
propagules (about 50
cm long)

26. Rhizophora mucronata
(Rhizophoraceae)
Large trees (about 12 m.
tall) with many stilt roots
hanging from the base of
the stem and old branches
Leaves large, leathery with
a narrow spinous
outgrowth at the tip
Groups of 4-8 creamishwhite flowers on long
stalks, calyx lobes 4,
stamens 8.
Long hanging propagules
(about 65 cm long).
Fl. June-August

27. Kandelia candel
(Rhizophoraceae)
Large shrubs or short
trees, stem base flattened
with flaky bark
Leaves narrow and long
Many white flowers on long
stalk, sepals and petals 5
each, stamens many
Hanging propagules in
bunches, about 40 cm
long, with reflexed calyx
lobes.
Fl. June-July

28. Lumnitzera
racemosa
(Combretaceae)
Small Trees
Flowers white

29. Cerbera odollam
(Apocynaceae)
Honde, Tende
Trees with white latex
Flowers white, sweet
scented
Fruits mango sized,
green
Fl. Round the year

30. Mangrove Associate Plants

34. ECOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE
•Coastal Shore Protection - Bioshields
•Breeding Ground for crabs, shrimps, Fishes
•Tsunami/Cyclone Protection ?
•Nutrient source for marine Food Web
•Habitat for Birds, other animals
•Source of Firewood and other domestic needs
•Carbon Sequestering
•Eco-Tourism Spots
•Educational/Research materials

35. Mangrove Ecotourism

38. Thank you…..