Quick facts
| Arabic name | القندل |
|---|---|
| English name | Red Mangrove (Qundal) |
| Scientific name | Rhizophora mucronata |
| Family | Mangrove family (Rhizophoraceae) |
| Plant type | Evergreen coastal tree |
| Height | 3 to 10 m |
| Water use | High |
Planting and harvest calendar
Best time to plant
Planted only within official coastal planting programs
Harvest
Not harvested
Times are general for the Saudi climate and may shift a few weeks by region: cooler in the highlands and the north, warmer on the coasts and in the south.
Description
A tree with arched leg-like stilt roots, shiny leathery oval leaves and long seedlings that sprout while still on the tree.
Where it grows
Grows on tidal mud flats on the southern coasts.
Soil
Sea mud covered by tides.
Water and irrigation
Lives in salty sea water.
Climate and light
Needs warmth and humidity all year.
Propagation
By long seedlings that drop from the tree.
Benefits and uses
- Protects coasts from erosion
- A nursery for fish and shrimp
- Stores carbon very well
- Home for birds
Drawbacks
- Rare and slow to spread
- Needs a special tidal habitat
- Harmed by land filling and pollution
Important notes
Mangroves are protected and are planted under the Saudi Green Initiative.
Sources and references
The information was collected and checked from these scientific sources:
- Plants of the World Online (POWO) - Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew: Rhizophora mucronata
- Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF): Rhizophora mucronata
- Wikipedia: Rhizophora mucronata
- Chaudhary, S. A. (1999-2001). Flora of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Ministry of Agriculture and Water, Riyadh.
- National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification (NCVC)
- Photo source: Wikimedia Commons (free license)