Mangrove Palm ( Nypa fruticans ) The Hidden Guardian of Our Coastal Ecosystems Scientific Name: Nypa fruticans Local Name (Sinhala): ගිං පොල් Family: Arecaceae National Conservation Status (NCS): Vulnerable Legal Protection: Protected under Sri Lanka’s Fauna and Flora Protection Ordinance (FFPO) The Mangrove Palm, or Nypa fruticans , is an extraordinary plant species that plays a vital role in sustaining and protecting Sri Lanka’s fragile coastal ecosystems. Often overlooked, this palm is a true survivor—uniquely adapted to life in muddy, estuarine environments where few plants dare to thrive. A Unique Coastal Palm Unlike most palms, Nypa fruticans has a fleshy underground trunk, making it appear trunkless above ground. From this hidden base arise elegant, feather-like paripinnate leaves that stretch up to 7 meters tall, forming dense green canopies in coastal wetlands. Its flowering structure is equally fascinating. The palm bears its inflorescence on a long stalk: a...
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