Varies in height with specimens from the far north reaching 15m, whilst those from further south reach 0.5m. It has rough, grey furrowed bark and stout branches. It has leathery leaves about 10 cm long which are shiny on the upper surface and whitish under surfaces. It has unusual aerial roots called pneumatophores, which project out of the mud at low tide.

Found around the muddy edge of harbours and inlets in the North Island

Uses the suns energy for photosynthesis

Seeds float so that they can be taken by the tide and dispersed away from the parent plant.

Metcalf, L., 2006, Know your New Zealand native trees.