Editing Barringtonia racemosa

{| class="wikitable" style="float: right; width: 320px; margin-left: 1.25em; margin-bottom: 1em;"
! colspan="2" style="background: #e8e8e8;" | Powderpuff tree (''Barringtonia racemosa'')
|-
! Common names
| Powderpuff tree; Common Putat; Freshwater Mangrove; Putat Kampong; Fish-Killer Tree<sup id="cite_ref-1">[[#cite_note-1|[1]]]</sup><sup id="cite_ref-2">[[#cite_note-2|[2]]]</sup>
|-
! Scientific name
| ''Barringtonia racemosa''
|-
! Genus
| [[Barringtonia]]
|-
! Family
| [[Lecythidaceae]]
|-
! Order
| [[Ericales]]
|-
! Growth form
| Tropical tree
|}

''Barringtonia racemosa'', commonly called powderpuff tree, Common Putat, or Freshwater Mangrove, is a coastal and riverine tree of Lecythidaceae. It grows in humid estuaries, mangroves, swamps, and shorelines. Hanging racemes carry fragrant flowers that open at night, followed by grooved fruits that are usually one-seeded and adapted to water dispersal.<sup>[[#cite_note-2|[2]]]</sup><sup id="cite_ref-3">[[#cite_note-3|[3]]]</sup>

== Description ==

This is usually a 4–8 m tree, although it can occasionally reach about 15 m. The trunk and branches carry long racemes of flowers with prominent white stamens. Flowers open at night and have a strong fragrance; moths and nectar-feeding bats are associated with pollination. The species can flower twice in a year, with one flowering period in spring and another extending from January into April in the climate described by PlantZAfrica.<sup>[[#cite_note-2|[2]]]</sup><sup>[[#cite_note-3|[3]]]</sup>

The fruit is grooved and usually contains one seed. Measurements vary among the institutional descriptions, from about 3–9 cm long and 2–6.4 cm wide to approximately 65 × 40 mm. Its buoyant, spongy or fibrous outer material helps the fruit move through water, fitting the species' river-margin and estuarine habitat.<sup>[[#cite_note-2|[2]]]</sup><sup>[[#cite_note-3|[3]]]</sup>

== Cultivation ==

=== Soil and water ===

In nature, ''Barringtonia racemosa'' occurs beside rivers and in mangrove, swamp, estuarine, and shoreline habitats. Cultivation guidance places it in heavy, moist soils, including slightly saline ground, and identifies tolerance of waterlogged settings. Water demand is moderate to high, and newly planted trees benefit from regular watering while they establish.<sup>[[#cite_note-2|[2]]]</sup><sup>[[#cite_note-3|[3]]]</sup>

=== Sun and humidity ===

The species is suited to warm, humid conditions. It can be grown in full sun or semi-shade, while the coastal and estuarine pattern of its native habitat indicates a preference for substantial atmospheric moisture. Frost sensitivity is a significant limitation in climates with freezing winters; protection from frost is more important than trying to match a precise temperature threshold.<sup>[[#cite_note-2|[2]]]</sup><sup>[[#cite_note-3|[3]]]</sup>

=== Seasonal changes ===

The tree has a warm-season growth rhythm and can show a short deciduous period in early summer. Flowering may occur twice yearly rather than following one universal calendar: PlantZAfrica gives spring and January–April flowering periods, while the timing of the second flush will shift with climate. Keep the root zone adequately moist during active growth and establishment, and reduce exposure to cold and frost during the coolest part of the year.<sup>[[#cite_note-2|[2]]]</sup>

== Propagation ==

Propagation is by seed or stem cuttings. For seed, PlantZAfrica recommends splitting the hard fruit covering, sowing in a 1:1 sand-and-compost medium, and keeping the container warm and light. Germination is usually given as 10–14 days in both institutional horticultural accounts. Seedlings can be moved after their second growth season, and regular watering is important during establishment. The 10–14-day interval is cultivation guidance rather than a controlled comparison of seed treatments or storage conditions.<sup>[[#cite_note-2|[2]]]</sup><sup>[[#cite_note-3|[3]]]</sup>

== Flowering, fruiting, and harvest ==

Night-opening, fragrant flowers are associated with moths and nectar-feeding bats, and the species may flower in two seasonal flushes. Fruits develop on the hanging racemes and are generally one-seeded, grooved, and buoyant. Harvest timing should follow fruit maturity and local observations rather than a fixed calendar because flowering seasons vary with climate.<sup>[[#cite_note-2|[2]]]</sup><sup>[[#cite_note-3|[3]]]</sup>

== Fruit and uses ==

The fruit has spongy or fibrous material around a hard seed and is suited to dispersal by water. The species has documented local fish-poison use: toxic saponins are associated with the bark and fruits, and PlantZAfrica additionally includes the seeds, wood, and roots. These records do not establish safe human food preparation or medicinal efficacy, so the fruit should not be treated as an edible crop without dedicated safety guidance.<sup>[[#cite_note-2|[2]]]</sup><sup>[[#cite_note-3|[3]]]</sup>

== References ==

* <span id="cite_note-1"></span>[[#cite_ref-1|↑]] '''[1]''' [https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/match?name=Barringtonia%20racemosa GBIF species match: ''Barringtonia racemosa''].

* <span id="cite_note-2"></span>[[#cite_ref-2|↑]] '''[2]''' [https://pza.sanbi.org/barringtonia-racemosa South African National Biodiversity Institute PlantZAfrica: ''Barringtonia racemosa''].

* <span id="cite_note-3"></span>[[#cite_ref-3|↑]] '''[3]''' [https://www.nparks.gov.sg/florafaunaweb/flora/2/7/2747 Singapore National Parks Board Flora & Fauna Web: ''Barringtonia racemosa''].