Cordia subcordata aka Mareer

Cordia subcordata is an evergreen shrub or small tree. It belongs to the borage family, Boraginaceae. Common names include marer and mareer. Its native range spans southern Somalia to northern Mozambique. It also extends from the western Indian Ocean to the Pacific. This tropical plant grows along coasts, including coral beaches. It also grows in sandy woodland and thickets near shores.

The tree forms a broad, dense crown. One reference lists a height of about 33 feet [10 metres]. Its wider reported range is 13–49 feet [4–15 metres]. The trunk often bends and lacks buttresses at its base. It can reach about 2 feet [0.6 metres] across. Some trunks lack branches for 26 feet [8 metres]. The tree keeps its leaves through the year. Insects pollinate its flowers. Its egg-shaped fruit measures about one inch long.

In gardens, give it full sun and moist soil. Good drainage matters, and sandy soil suits it. Growth is fast on sites with moderate fertility and good drainage. It grows best with about 49 inches of rain yearly. It also suits climates with less humid conditions. Young plants tolerate little shade. Established trees can withstand some drought. They also tolerate some salt in soil and sea spray. Heavy salt spray can cause severe leaf damage.

People plant this tree for ornament and for timber. Its broad crown suits garden courts. Communities also gather wood from wild trees. The heartwood ranges from pale brown to dark brown. It may show purple tones and dark streaks. Bark supplies fibre for clothes, hats, and baskets. Bark also yields brown dye. Older leaves provide brown to red dye for kapa cloth. The wood burns fast and can help start fires by friction.

People eat the fruit in parts of its range. They also eat the bland seeds, sometimes during food shortages. In Polynesia, people sometimes chew young leaves with betel nut. Useful Tropical Plants lists no known hazards for this species. It records medicinal use but gives no treatment details. It reports a 2019 IUCN status of Least Concern. Yet heavy cutting for tourist carvings threatens mature trees in Papuasia. This local pressure persists despite the species' broad range.