Laguncularia recemosa (L.) Gaertner f. (Family Combretaceae): gross morphology, phytochemistry, ecology and distribution in the Niger Delta

The morphology, phytochemistry, ecology and distribution of laguncularia racemosa (l.) gaertner f., (basionym: conocarpus racemosa l.), in the niger delta area was investigated in this study. the data showed that laguncularia racemosa is a small tree or shrub 30 cm in diameter and about 6 m in height, growing on peaty chikoko soil. the bark of this plant is smooth, greyish brown in colour whereas the inner bark is light brown. phyllotaxy is opposite. leaves are ever-green, leathery-textured, petiolate rounded at their bases with pairs of lateral nerves; subsidiary cells surrounding the stomata on the abaxial surfaces are anomocytic whereas those on the adaxial are cyclocytic. the leaf stalk is provided with a pair of glands at the top. leaves and stems contain flavonoids: apigenin, kaempferol, tricin, iso-orientin and quercetin. inflorescence is a panicle. the plant fruits all the year round; fruits are greenish yellow, leathery velvety, ribbed longitudinally, crowned by persistent calyx teeth and contains an elongated seed. the plant is well endowed with pneumatophores.