River Mangrove

Barringtonia acutangula

Mirlbarridi or Majala Yawuru   

Flowering and Fruiting: TBA

The freshwater Mangrove is a species of Barringtonia that is native in coastal wetlands in southern Asia and northern Australasia. Locally, it can be found along the banks of the Fitzroy River, freshwater lakes and estuaries. Locally, the closest known naturally occurring is east of Broome at Lake Campion (Roebuck Plains) and north of Broome at Minari Coulomb Point Nature Reserve.

The Majala are most often shrub size, but they can  grow to a large tree about 8–15 m high.  They have clumps of bright red pendulous droops of flowers, followed by a profusion of four winged seeds.

The tree has a number of medicinal values; the bark can be used as a fish poison and is used in shallow lakes and billabongs to stun small fish. The leaves also have an antiseptic and analgesic value and can be used on the skin.