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...your on-line source for Florida Red Mangrove |
Commercial Uses for Mangroves
| Mangrove is a source of timber, fuel, railroad ties and tannin in the tropics. Having a short crop rotation period makes red mangroves a popular choice for posts and poles in managed forests in Malaysia. In Asia, commercial mangrove production is necessary for the construction of boats, houses and furniture. The wood of the tree has a high calorific value, meaning it produces high heat when burned, making it the wood of choice in the manufacture of charcoal in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. Mangrove charcoal is one of the heaviest charcoals. It is used for BBQ in restaurants, outdoor picnic charcoal packs, and in some industrial applications like metal production. One advantage of this charcoal is it gives a special aroma to BBQ when burning. There are two types of mangrove charcoal: trunk and branch.
NOTE: Mangrove charcoal is not available through this website.
The bark, leaf shoots and roots of the trees supply tannin used for dyes, leather preservatives and furniture stains. Mangrove sap is used by East Africans and Polynesians to make the black dye for tapa cloth. Leaves are used for livestock food, as "green manure" in fishponds, and as tea and tobacco. The fruits are said to be edible and flowers are a source of honey and fish poison. Mangroves are being studied as a source of pesticides and agrochemical compounds. Toxins found in mangroves may play a future roll in repelling insects. Resin extracted from the tree is used in producing plywood adhesives. The manufacture of chipboard and pulpwood (newspaper and cardboard), all depend on by-products of the red mangrove. The ash of the red mangrove is used as a soap substitute and other mangrove extracts are used to produce synthetic fibers, such as rayon, and cosmetics. Mangroves are also used as a source of food (mangrove-derived honey, vinegar, salt and cooking oil) and drink (alcohol and wine). In Japan, Australia and the United States, germinated propagules are planted in non-porous pots, making unique houseplants.
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 Mangrove trunk charcoal  Tapa cloth  Toilet tank cover replaced with mangroves embedded in a sheet of styrofoam (no need to water these!) |
Mangroves are available for shipping on a seasonal basis.
Please e-mail us to inquire about available sizes and quantites as these change monthly.
Please e-mail us to inquire about available sizes and quantites as these change monthly.