Barringtonia racemosa aka Brackwater Mangrove

Barringtonia racemosa is an evergreen tree in the Lecythidaceae family. Its common names include freshwater mangrove and powderpuff tree. Its native range spans eastern Africa, tropical Asia and the western Pacific. In Africa, it reaches from Kenya south to KwaZulu-Natal. It grows in wet tropical regions and some wet subtropical areas. The species has a broad range and a large population. A cited 2020 assessment lists it as Least Concern.

Most trees reach about 13–26 feet [4–8 metres] tall. Some reach 66 feet [20 metres], beyond the usual range. Trees often have several stems rather than one straight trunk. Their trunks can have an uneven form. Some trunks reach about 1.6 feet [0.5 metres] across. The tree keeps its leaves throughout the year. Its flowers hang in racemes, and bats and insects pollinate them. Growers plant it for ornament and sometimes along roads.

In the wild, this tree grows close to water. Habitats include riverbanks, freshwater swamps, lowland thickets and rainforests. It also grows in less salty parts of mangrove swamps. There, it may form pneumatophores, roots that aid gas exchange. It tolerates some salt and can grow near beaches. Sites near the high-water mark can suit it. It favours heavy clay, loam or rich volcanic soils.

For cultivation, it prefers partial shade and ample moisture. It grows fast and is described as easy to grow. Its climate needs are strict: even a light frost can harm it. Most rainfall in its home climates falls throughout the year. Some sites have only a short dry season. Fresh seed offers one route to propagation. Growers can sow it in a partly shaded nursery bed. Cuttings from half-ripe wood offer another route.

Local people use the tree for food, medicine and materials. Young leaves are eaten raw or cooked after treatment for bitterness. Seed starch has a food use after careful processing. This does not make untreated seeds safe to eat. The seeds contain poisonous saponins, and fruits can poison pigs. People also use roots, bark and fruits as fish poisons. Traditional remedies use several parts, but these uses do not establish safety. Bark supplies tannin and cord, while seed oil serves as lamp fuel.