Fauna
Plant

Green Buttonwood

Conocarpus erectus

Also known as Buttonwood, Button Mangrove, Zaragoza Mangrove

Green buttonwood anchors coastal transition zones just above the high-tide line, forming dense thickets that buffer shorelines against storm surges and wind. Its leathery, elliptical leaves feature specialized salt-excreting glands at the base of each blade, allowing it to thrive in saline soils where few other terrestrial trees survive. In late summer, spherical flower heads mature into reddish-brown, cone-like button clusters that disperse via coastal water currents.

CoastalMangroveSalt-Tolerant
Green Buttonwood reference1 / 7
(c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · cc-by-sa
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Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & preyPhotoautotroph (sunlight, water, carbon dioxide)
Predators
  • Mangrove Tree Crab
  • Florida Hornworm
  • Coastal Scale Insects
ThreatsCoastal development, shoreline hardening, severe freezes
HabitatsTidal mangrove margins, coastal strand, brackish marshes, beach dunes
Life span50–100 years
Classification
  1. OrderMyrtales
  2. FamilyCombretaceae
  3. GenusConocarpus
  4. SpeciesConocarpus erectus
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskLow
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is low
Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
  • Foliage Inspection: Look closely at leaf stems to spot the paired salt-excreting glands.
  • Habitat Clue: Find this species just upland of true mangroves where soils remain drier.
  • Fruit Identification: Note the button-shaped, scaly purplish-brown seed clusters year-round.
Related species
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