Lumnitzera

Lumnitzera (common name, black mangrove) is west mangrove genus in the Combretaceae family. The genus occurs in east Africa, and parts of the northern Pacific.

Species
The genus comprises of only two species, which are similar in vegatative appearance, but their flowers are different in color. Lumnitzera littorea has red flowers, while Lumnitzera racemosa has white flowers. Both have flat, spoon-like leaves. L. racemosa lives in the western part of its range, while L. littorea dominates the eastern part. Hybrids only occur in places where both species overlap.



Unlike the other woody members of its family, Laguncularia and Conocarpus, this genus is the only one to live in the Pacific.

Naming
Lumnitzera was named by Carl Ludwig Willdenow in 1803 after German botanist, Stephan Lumnitzer (1750–1806).