The mangrove tree Barringtonia acutangula (synonym: B. spicata, Eugenia acutangula; common name: Freshwater Mangrove, Indian Oak, Itchy Tree; Family: Lecythidaceae) is a showy tree especially when it is flowering.This single specimen planted at HortPark was in bloom recently and the ground around it was littered with all the shed flowers with extended long red filaments and cream coloured anthers.
I mentioned in an earlier post that there is a Barringtonia acutangula and a B. acutangula ssp. acutangula and I am naming this one as such because from the fruits etc, it seems this is not the native one and could be from Australia.
Just look at the pendulous strings of red floral buds and opened flowers. I must admit it was quite a spectacle to see the fully bloomed tree but it was quite a challenge to take the photos.
A few links on the plant are shown below:
- http://skipas.wordpress.com/native-plants/plant-families-l-m/lecythidaceae/barringtonia-acutangula-freshwater-mangrove/
- http://keys.trin.org.au:8080/key-server/data/0e0f0504-0103-430d-8004-060d07080d04/media/Html/taxon/Barringtonia_acutangula_subsp._acutangula.htm
- http://toptropicals.com/cgi-bin/garden_catalog/cat.cgi?family=Lecythidaceae
