Mangrove flora of karnataka

Floral Diversity of Mangrove ecosystem of Karnataka India

1. MANGROVE FLORA OF
KARNATAKA
Dr. M. Jayakara Bhandary
Associate Professor & Head
Department of Botany
Government Arts and Science College
Karwar –581301
[email protected]
www.gasck.ac.in
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

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 smajorityof
People on Earth!

3. WHAT ARE MANGROVES ?
Mangrovesaregenerallysalttolerantplantsgrowing
intheswampymudofcoastalareas.
Theygrowinintertidalzonesofrivermouths,
lagoonsandcreekswhichformtheestuarieswhere
riverwatermixeswithseawater.
Theevergreenmangrovetreesandshrubsassemble
togethertoformdensemangroveforestsalongthe
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 Km
2 -
2007
Sundarbans, Mahanadi
Delta, Picchavaram,
Cauvery Delta, Godavari-
Krishna Estuarine Complex,
Andaman-Nicobar Islands –
notable mangrove
locations.

6. Mangroves of Karnataka
•Official Estimates
2 -3 Km
2
-
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. 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
TRUE MANGROVE PLANTS

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)
Smalltreeswith
whitebark
Clusterofpencil-like
breathing roots
aroundthestem
Leavessmallwith
acutetip
Clusterofsmall,
yellowflowerson
longstalks.Stamens
notprojecting
Almond-likefruitswith
shiningsilkysurface

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 tail-
like 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. Rhizophoraapiculata
(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 creamish-
white flowers on long
stalks, calyx lobes 4,
stamens 8.
Long hanging propagules
(about 65 cm long).
Fl. June-August

27. Kandelia candel
(Rhizophoraceae)
Largeshrubsorshort
trees,stembaseflattened
withflakybark
Leavesnarrowandlong
Manywhiteflowersonlong
stalk,sepalsandpetals5
each,stamensmany
Hangingpropagulesin
bunches,about40cm
long,withreflexedcalyx
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…..