| The first putative hybrid tree species of the genus Bruguiera (Rhizophoraceae), B. × rhynchopetala, is reported from mangrove forests of China and Australia. It was described from China previously as a variety of B. sexangula. The hybrid is acknowledged as B. gymnorhiza × B. sexangula with parent species restricted to different parts of the Indo-West Pacific. The hybrid is recognised at north-eastern and south-eastern parts of the overlap area between parent distributions, but it appears absent in western parts. Further local assessments are needed across the range. Hybrid status is supported by: 1) intermediate and shared morphological characters; 2) distribution limited to areas of co-occurrence of B. gymnorhiza and B. sexangula; and 3) molecular... |
