M. Thulin (2005) Avicenniaceae. Flora of Somalia 454-455
Plants trees or shrubs, with erect aerial roots (pneumatophores). Young stems 4-angled. Leaves opposite, simple, without stipules. Inflorescences dense, terminal or axillary, cymes, each flower subtended by an involucre composed of a scale-like bract and 2 bracteoles. Calyces deeply 5-lobed, lobes imbricate; corolll tubes short, 4-lobed; stamens 4, inserted in the throad of the corolla tubes; anthers 2-celled, opening by longitudinal slits; ovaries superior, with free-centra, more or less 4-winged placentas; ovules 4, pendulous; styles shortly 2-fid. Fruits capsules, opening by 2(-4) thick valves; seeds more or less viviparous.
Avicennia includes 3-7 species, depending on the circumscriptions adopted. One species, Avicennia marina, is known from both Somaliland and Somalia.
