Avicennia marina (Forsk.) Vierh., Denkschr. Akad. Wiss. Wien Math.-Nat. 71 (1907)
Latin for 'from the sea', referring to its coastal habitat.

Synonyms
Avicennia alba var. acuminatissima Merr., Avicennia balanophora Stapf & Moldenke, Avicennia eucalyptifolia Zipp. ex Miq., Avicennia intermedia W.Griff., Avicennia marina forma angustata Moldenke, Avicennia marina var. acutissima Stapf & Moldenke, Avicennia marina var. anomala Moldenke, Avicennia marina var. intermedia (W.Griff.) Bakh., Avicennia marina var. typica Bakh., Avicennia maritima Naurois & Roux, Avicennia mindanaense Elmer, Avicennia officinalis var. acuminata Domin., Avicennia officinalis var. eucalyptifolia Zipp. ex Miq., Avicennia officinalis var. ovatifolia Kuntze, Avicennia resinifera Forst., Avicennia sphaerocarpa Stapf ex Ridl., Avicennia tomentosa var. arabica Walp., Avicennia tomentosa var. australasica Walp., Halodendron thouarsi Roem. & Schult., Racka ovata Roem. & Schult., Racka torrida J.F.Gmel., Trichorhiza lechenaultii Miq. ex Moldenke, Sceura marina Forsk.

Description
Shrub up to 8 m tall and 10 cm dbh, with pneumatophore roots. Stipules absent. Leaves opposite, simple, penni-veined, glabrous to hairy, whitish below. Flowers ca. 6 mm diameter, yellow-orange, placed in racemes. Fruits ca. 10 mm long, green-brownish, drupes.

Ecology
In mangroves and along tidal rivers and streams, also in coastal forests, swamps and scrub up to 50 m altitude.

Distribution
Eastern Africa to China, Japan, New Guinea, northern Australia and western Pacific. In Borneo found along the coasts of Sarawak, Sabah and East Kalimantan.

Local names in Borneo
Api-api.