Mangrove

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Mangrove \Man"grove\, n. [Malay manggi-manggi.]
     1. (Bot.) The name of one or two trees of the genus
        {Rhizophora} ({Rhizophora Mangle}, and {Rhizophora
        mucronata}, the last doubtfully distinct) inhabiting muddy
        shores of tropical regions, where they spread by emitting
        aerial roots, which fasten in the saline mire and


        eventually become new stems. The seeds also send down a
        strong root while yet attached to the parent plant.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: The fruit has a ruddy brown shell, and a delicate white
           pulp which is sweet and eatable. The bark is
           astringent, and is used for tanning leather. The black
           and the white mangrove ({Avicennia nitida} and
           {Avicennia tomentosa}) have much the same habit.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Zool.) The mango fish.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  mangrove
       n : a tropical tree or shrub bearing fruit that germinates while
           still on the tree and having numerous prop roots that
           eventually form an impenetrable mass and are important in
           land building [syn: {Rhizophora mangle}]