Ceriops tagal (Perr.) C.B.Rob.

Habit: Medium size tree of around 6 m, up to 15(-25) m tall, often changing into a shrub under unfavorable conditions.

Roots: Stilt roots.

Trunk & bark: Trunk base pyramidal with many stilt roots. Bark light grey, smooth with fine fissures.

Leaves: Leaves simple, entire, opposite, stipulate, ovateoblong or obovate, apex emarginated or rounded, base cuneate, 6-12 x 3-6 cm, coriaceous.

Inflorescences or flowers: Inflorescences axillary condensed cymes. Flowers small, regular, white; calyx 5lobed; petals 5, each with 3 clavate appendages at the tip and uncinated hairs at base; stamens 10, alternately long and short, ovary 3 celled, style short, stigma simple.

Fruits: Fruits hanging with long peduncle, slightly conical, apex pointed. Calyx lobes are usually widely spreading or reflexed

Seeds /seedling: Vivipary. Propagule with hypocotyle 20 – 25 cm long, gradually thickening towards the pointed apex, deeply grooved and ribbed, reddishbrown; cotyledonary collar yellow when mature.

It is growing in harder and higher muddy soil of the inner mangrove with mangrove associated species. It is also observed in river and creek bank situations. 

Dispersal and establishment of seedlings follow the pattern usual for the Rhizophoraceae (vivipary). Germination epigeal. Seedling development takes about a year.

Pollination by night flying insects, and by moths.

Bark decoction is used to arrest hemorrhage; leaves are used to treat skin diseases, leprosy, malaria; roots are used as purgative; the wood, hard and termite resistant, used as fuel, for boat building and yields adhesive; flowers are a rich source of honey and bee wax. Bark and roots are used to produce reddish dye.