Sonneratia caseolaris

{{Short description|Species of fruit and plant}}

{{Speciesbox

|image = Mangrove Apple.JPG

|image_caption = Unripened mangrove apple

|image2 = Bud of Mangrove Apple.JPG

|image2_caption = Bud of mangrove apple

|status = LC

|status_system = IUCN3.1

|status_ref = {{cite iucn |author=Kathiresan, K. |author2=Salmo III, S.G. |author3=Fernando, E.S. |author4=Peras, J.R. |author5=Sukardjo, S. |author6=Miyagi, T. |author7=Ellison, J. |author8=Koedam, N.E. |author9=Wang, Y. |author10=Primavera, J. |author11=Jin Eong, O. |author12=Wan-Hong Yong, J. |author13=Ngoc Nam, V. |date=2010 |title=Sonneratia caseolaris |volume=2010 |page=e.T178796A7608551 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-2.RLTS.T178796A7608551.en |access-date=19 November 2021}}

|genus = Sonneratia

|species = caseolaris

|authority = (L.) Engl.

|synonyms_ref={{cite web |url=http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:941681-1#synonyms |title=Sonneratia caseolaris (L.) Engl. |author= |date=2017 |website=Plants of the World Online |publisher=Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew |access-date=7 September 2020 }}

|synonyms={{collapsible list|

• Aubletia caseolaris (L.) Gaertn.
• Blatti caseolaris (L.) Kuntze
• Sonneratia acida L.f.
• Sonneratia evenia Blume
• Sonneratia neglecta Blume
• Sonneratia obovata Blume
• Sonneratia ovalis Korth.
• Sonneratia rubra Oken
• Rhizophora caseolaris L.

}}

}}

Sonneratia caseolaris, commonly known as mangrove apple, is a species of plant in the family Lythraceae. The fruit is noted for its outward similarity to the persimmon fruit.{{Cite web|url=http://mangrove.nus.edu.sg/guidebooks/text/1074.htm|title=mangrove flora: berembang (sonneratia caseolaris)|website=mangrove.nus.edu.sg}}

File:Mangroves at Muzhappilangad 024.jpg]]

This tree is a type of mangrove growing up to 20 m in height and with a trunk reaching a maximum diameter of 50 cm. It is present in tropical tidal mud flats from Africa to Indonesia, southwards down to northeast Australia and New Caledonia and northwards up to Hainan Island in China and the Philippines.

The fruit of this tree is the subject of a legend of Maldivian folklore, Kulhlhavah Falu Rani. Kuhlhavah (ކުއްޅަވައް) is the Dhivehi name for the mangrove apple (Sonneratia caseolaris). Romero-Frias, Xavier (2012) Folk tales of the Maldives, [http://www.niaspress.dk/catalogue2011/Catalogue_2012.pdf NIAS Press], {{ISBN|978-87-7694-104-8}}, {{ISBN|978-87-7694-105-5}}

The tree is associated with congregating fireflies throughout southeast Asia{{Cite web|url=http://www.wildsingapore.com/wildfacts/plants/mangrove/sonneratia/caseolaris.htm|title=Berembang (Sonneratia caseolaris) on the Shores of Singapore|website=www.wildsingapore.com}} and is the food source of moth and other insects.