Statue of Unity – Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat Rain Forest Ektanagar

Barringtonia acutangula

Syn. Barringtonia spicata

IUCN Red List Least Concern (LC)

Local name

  • Freshwater Mangrove (English)
  • Hijal/Izhar (Hindi)
  • Hijjala (Sanskrit)

Tree type

Evergreen Deciduous
Family: Lecythidaceae
8m

Indicated uses

Medicinal Edible Ornamental Avenue Other

Flowering & fruiting

Flowering Fruiting

Key characters

Barringtonia acutangula bark

Bark

Rough fissured dark grey bark.

Barringtonia acutangula leaves

Leaves

Leaves are obovate.

Barringtonia acutangula flower

Flower

Red flowers are produced on pendulous racemes about 20 cm long.

Barringtonia acutangula fruit / seeds

Fruit / Seeds

The fruits are 2–6 cm long and 1–3 cm wide, typically fibrous, oblong-ovoid berries, each containing a single ovoid seed. Partly deciduous in extended dry periods.

Barringtonia acutangula

Did you know?

The species is known as the “Freshwater Mangrove” because it thrives in freshwater wetlands rather than saline coastal mangrove habitats.

Distribution

World map showing distribution

Afghanistan to North Australia