Floral composition and taxonomy of mangroves of Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Abstract

Actual number of mangrove species found in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands outnumber the number of species recorded to occur there. Present study consists reviewing the literature on mangrove floral composition and distribution as well as highlighting the causes of such apparently large species numbers and apparently incorrect identification of some of the mangrove species in the Andaman and Nicobar islands. Mangrove survey indicates that there are 33 exclusive ‘mangrove species’, at least 27 ‘mangrove associates’ that occur on the islands.