Ceriops timoriensis Domin

A tree of variable form, attaining exceptionally a height of 40 m and a diameter of the trunk of 40 cm with a slender stem and a compact crown in favourable sites, but in poorer conditions a tree of small dimensions or even shrub-like; stem base usually surrounded by a tightly appressed conical cluster of short stilt roots; roots superficial, spreading, with looping or knobby pneumatophores in wet situations, but some deeply descending roots may develop from the stem base; bark varying from white and pale grey to reddish-brown, deeply fissured in older specimens; branches conspicuously jointed. Leaves opposite, clustered at the end of the twigs, coriaceous, obovate to obovate-oblong, rarely elliptic-oblong, 5-12 cm x 2-7.5 cm, cuneate at base, obtuse or slightly emarginate at apex, glabrous and glossy; petiole 1.5-3.5 cm long, with 1-2.5 cm long deciduous stipules at base. Flowers in condensed up to 10-flowered cymes on the terminal nodes of new shoots, 5-6-merous, 3-5 mm long, with deeply lobed calyx and white, ca. 3.5 mm long petals, coherent at base and with 3 clavate, apical appendages; stamens twice the number of calyx lobes, anthers much shorter than filaments, explosively dehiscent; ovary semi-inferior, 3-celled. Fruit an ovoid berry 1.5-2.5 cm long, with persistent reflexed calyx lobes, pointed basally, warty over its whole length. Seeds viviparous. Hypocotyl club-shaped, protruding below the fruit while this is still attached to the tree, 15-25(-35) cm long, often deeply fluted.

Although C. tagal reaches its greatest stature in forests in aseasonal high rainfall regions, it is more important ecologically, where seasonal climates prevail. Typically it occupies sites from the middle to the landward zones of mangrove forests, and may be flooded either by all normal high tides, or only by occasional high tides. It may become dominant in well drained zones, and form dense low-canopied pure stands along the landward zones, and forms dense low-canopies pure stands along the landward boundaries of some mangrove swamps, where the soil surface may become dry and cracked. However, these belts of C. tagal become open and stunted where salinity is high and in extreme situations the trees give way to open herbaceous areas or to bare saline mudflats. In most areas, C. tagal is much more common than C. decandra.

In reforestation projects establishment rates approaching 100% have been achieved. Unlike other Rhizophoraceae, the propagules (seedlings) are small and delicate, and must therefore be collected and transported to the replanting sites with care. They will not tolerate excessive desiccation. However, they are easily heeled in and become establish very quickly.

Pests: Ceriops trees are attacked by some mistletoes. The high tannin content discourages many herbivores, but crabs eat the seedlings, and whereas the magnitude of crab depredations is not immediately apparent in undistributed forests, it becomes clear if seedlings are planted to reforest clear-felled areas. Then in some cases, the intensity of crab browsing is, or becomes, so great that entire plantings are destroyed and the forest cannot regenerate. In older plantations monkeys cause minor damage by up rooting seedlings.

Tannin or dyestuff: The tannin is of high quality and frequently commands a good price, and the bark is therefore still important locally. Both bark and sap yield dyes (red and black respectively) which continue to be of importance to the 'batik' industry from Africa to the Pacific. In central Java, the bark is still used in the traditional 'soga-batik'. The bark also serves to preserve and dye fishing nets and matting. The tannin extract can be used as binder for particle board. Timber: The wood is used for tool handles. Alcohol: An alcoholic beverage is obtained, illegally, from the bark, e.g. in Sabah. Medicine: The bark was locally used in traditional medicine in Peninsular Malaysia and Indonesia. Fuelwood: The wood makes excellent charcoal and good firewood, but has been said to burn with too hot a flame for domestic use, damaging cooking pots.