Description
Gorjon (Rhizophora apiculate)
Gorjon belongs to the Plantae kingdom under the Rhizophoraceae family. The shrub size depends on geographical factors (climate and soil specifically). On average a mature R. apiculata shrub reaches between 5 – 8 metres in height although it has the potential to reach up to 30 – 40 metres.
R. apiculata has a C4 plant morphology that best adapts the plant for high temperature and low water climates, enabling the plant to thrive in tropical environments due to the diffuse whilst limiting the amount of water transpired out of the leaves.
It is located exclusively in the mangrove ecosystem due to an affinity to wet, muddy and silty sediments. Due to the high salt concentrations of the soils in these environments, it has mechanisms (ultrafiltration) in place to reduce the likely impacts associated with increased salt in plant physiology (drying plant material down causing increased evapotranspiration).
