This species is can be easily mistaken for a member of the coffee family because of the opposite leaves and the interpetiolar scars. It must have taken a rather advanced level of observation on the part of the person who named or described this species to have concluded that this species is affiliated with the mangrove family (Rhizophoraceae) but the extremely pronounced green calyx reminiscent of a small Bruguiera along with the pronounced stipules must have given it away. Also the leaves have the rather typical scattered dark dots seen also in species of Rhizophora and Bruguiera. This species has therefore been called the Freshwater Mangrove and is found quite commonly in coastal forest, rainforest and is also grown quite widely as an ornamental.
The freshwater mangrove is not an easy species for beginners but once known, it can consistently be recognized by the somewhat fleshy leaves with rather obscured venation, the pointed stipules covering the new leaf buds and the light brown corky bark. The fruits are little edible berries which ripen red.
Leaf Whispering in the Tropics 