Mangroves in India. Identification Manual.1989. Illustrated. 22 plates (some coloured). VIII,113 p. gr8vo. Paper bd.

The term mangrove is derived from the work 'mangal' and the Portugueseword for mangroves is 'mangue'. Mangroves are a group of salt tolerantplant species which occur in the tropical and subtropical intertidalestuarine regions, sheltered coast-lines and creeks and are dominatedby partly submerged sclerophyllous plant species which are taxonomicallyunrelated. Mangroves constitute a dynamic ecosystem with a complexassociation of species both of flora and fauna of terrestrial andaquatic systems and the vegetation presents an evergreen type withvaried life-forms. While the families Rhizophoraceae, Sonneratiaceae,Avicenniaceae are dominant with gregarious growth of their species,different other species are also commonly distributed belonging to thefamilies: Combretaceae, Arecaceae, Sterculiaceae, Acanthaceae, Meliaceae, Fabaceae, Myrsinaceae, Asclepiadaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Plumbaginaceaeand a few others. Salt tolerant plant associates or halophytes commonlygrowing on a relief that is situated above the tidal level and mostlyremains dry in the mangrove ecosystem are usually seen in the families:Chenopodiaceae, Acanthaceae and Plumbaginaceae. As a result of convergent evolution due to habitat stress, mangrove species havesimilar physiology and structural adaptations (Fortes, 1988).