Excoecaria agallocha
Aegiceras corniculatum
Chinnathota & Peddathota are mangrove swamps supported by Pulicat Lake in Vakadu mandal of Nellore district. They form a vast mangrove forest in this part of Pulicat lake. Here we find true mangroves like Lumnitzera racemosa & Aegiceras corniculatum with a robust growth. On the whole here we find a very thick mangrove forest over a length of about 2 km.
- Mandal : Vakadu
- Date of visit : 23.3.2011
1. Peddathota :
This mangrove swamp is on the northern fringe of Pulicat Lake in Vakadu mandal. Peddathota is about 100 m. from a metal road. The following mangroves are recorded.
True mangroves:
1. Aegiceras corniculatum: 12-15 ft tall, flowering
2. Excoecaria agallocha : 8-10 ft tall, flowering
3. Avicennia marina: 8-12 ft tall, not in flowering
Here we find pure Aegiceras communities. The trees are very dense, the tallest being 12-15 ft tall.
Other flora:
1. Calamus rotang(associated with Aegiceras and Excoecaria) Family Arecaceae
2. Centella asiatica(L.) Urban: Family Apiaceae, flowering
3. Bacopa monnieri (L) Pennel Family Scrophulariaceae, flowering
There are Casuarina plantations beside the mangrove belt.
Salinity: 25 ppt
Water Temperature : 270C
2. Chinnathota:
It is also close to a metal road on the northern fringe of Pulicat Lake in Vakadu mandal. In fact, there is no demarcating line between Peddathota and Chinnathota.
True mangroves:
1. Lumnitzera racemosa : 13-15 ft tall, flowering
2. Aegiceras corniculatum : 10-12 ft tall, flowering
3. Excoecaria agallacha : 18- 20 ft tall, flowering
There is virtually no difference in the mangrove flora composition of Peddathota and Chinnathota, except that the mangroves are denser at Chinnathota. In Chinnathota it is a mixed community of Lumnitzera and Excoecaria trees.
Mangrove associate:
Fimbristylis ferruginea Family Cyperaceae, flowering
Other flora:
1. Calamus rotang
2. Manilkara hexandra (Roxb) Dub, Family Sapotaceae, no flowers
Salinity: 28 ppt
Water Temperature : 280C
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