Galapagos Species Database

The Galapagos Species Database shares the information about the species from our Natural History Collections.

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Conocarpus erectus L.

mangle botón, jelí, button mangrove

Conocarpus erectus L. Photo: Patricia Jaramillo, Rachel Atkinson, Anne Guézou, CDF, 2006.
Conocarpus erectus L. Photo: Patricia Jaramillo, Rachel Atkinson, Anne Guézou, CDF, 2006.

Commonly known as button mangrove, it is a small tree that reaches between 3 and 8 meters in height, with a frequently twisted trunk and alternate, thick, leathery leaves that range in color from green to dark green. It produces small flowers grouped in dense inflorescences, followed by clusters of scaly fruits that can be present throughout the year. In the Galapagos Islands, this species grows in coastal areas as part of the transitional vegetation in brackish areas and mangroves. It is essential to the coastal ecosystem, showing high tolerance to sandy and saline soils and adaptability to different types of substrate.

Taxonomy

Domain
Eukaryota

Kingdom
Plantae

Phylum
Magnoliophyta

Class
Magnoliopsida (= Dicotyledoneae)

Order
Myrtales

Family
Combretaceae

Genus
Conocarpus

Species
erectus

Taxon category: Accepted

Orthographical variation: Conocarpus erecta.

Origin: Native

Distribution

Map of specimen collection localities or observation records for this species in our collections database.

Distribution: The native range of this species is S. Florida to Peru and Brazil, and W. Tropical Africa to N. Angola (POWO, 2023).

References

  • Atkinson, R. Guézou, A. & Jaramillo, P. (2009) Siémbrame en tu jardín - Plantas nativas para jardines en Galápagos. Fundación Charles Darwin, Puerto Ayora, Galápagos, Ecuador, 151 pp.
  • Itow, S. (1997) List of Plant Specimens collected in the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador. Bulletin of the Faculty of Liberal Arts, Nagasaki University, Natural Science, 38 (1): 53-144.
  • Jaramillo, P. (1998) Distribución Espacial de la Vegetación Vascular y Dispersión de Especies Introducidas dentro del Parque Nacional Galápagos. Tesis de Doctorado en Biología, Universidad Central del Ecuador. Especialización ECOLOGIA DE POBLACIONES.
  • Lundh, J.P. (1995) Some additional information and comments on the Annotated Check list of Vascular Plants of the Galapagos Islands by Lawesson, Adsersen and Bentley. Charles Darwin Research Station, unpublished.
  • McMullen, C.K. (1999) Flowering plants of the Galapagos. Cornell University Press, Ithaca and London, 370 pp.
  • Robinson, B.L. (1902) Flora of the Galapagos Islands. Papers from the Hopkins-Stanford Expedition to the Galapgaos Islands. Proc. Amer. Acad. 38(4): 78-270.
  • Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew Missouri Botanical Garden (eds.) (2013) The Plant List, Version 1.1. Published on the Internet; http://www.theplantlist.org/ (accessed 1st January).
  • Schofield, E.K. (1971) Field Guide to Some Common Galápagos Plants. Lindblad Travel, Inc., NY: 1-42.
  • Schofield, E.K. (1984) Plants of the Galapagos Islands. Field Guide and Travel Journal. Universe Books, New York, 159 pp.
  • Stewart, A. (1911) A botanical survey of the Galápagos Islands. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 4th Series, 1: 7-288.
  • Svenson, H.K. (1935) Plants of the Astor Expedition, 1930 (Galapagos and Cocos Islands). Am. J. Bot. 22: 208-277.
  • Van der Werff, H.H. (s.a.) Pers. obs. and colls. Personal observations and collections.
  • Wiggins, I.L. Porter, D.M. (1971) Flora of the Galapagos Islands Standford University Press, Stanford.

You are welcome to download and use the information found in this page, acknowledging its source.

This page should be cited as follows:

"Galapagos Species Database, Conocarpus erectus", dataZone. Charles Darwin Foundation, https://datazone.darwinfoundation.org/en/checklist/?species=278. Accessed 31 October 2026.