# Green Buttonwood (*Conocarpus erectus*) The Green Buttonwood is a special tree that loves to grow near the water. It has shiny green leaves and can grow tall, providing shade for animals and people alike. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![Green Buttonwood](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Conocarpus_erectus_Key_Largo.jpg&width=800) Photo: Mason Brock ( Masebrock ), Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Conocarpus_erectus_Key_Largo.jpg) ## Appearance The Green Buttonwood is a coastal tree with a gnarled trunk and dense, often silvery-green leaves. Its inconspicuous flowers form round, button-like seed heads that darken with age, giving it a unique textured appearance. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Myrtales - **Family:** Combretaceae - **Genus:** Conocarpus ## Interesting facts - Despite its name, it's not a true mangrove, but often grows right alongside them! - Indigenous peoples used its bark to make a powerful dye for fabrics and to tan leather. - Its super dense wood sinks in water, making it a favorite for smoking meats! - The leaves sparkle in the sun as tiny salt crystals are excreted from special glands! ## Special abilities - **Salt-Sweater:** Green Buttonwood can push excess salt out through special glands on its leaves, allowing it to live in salty environments. - **Hurricane Helper:** Its deep roots and flexible wood help the Green Buttonwood stay standing during strong coastal storms and hurricanes. - **Fire Shield:** The tree's thick bark protects it from brush fires, helping it survive and regrow even after a burn. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 300-1500 cm - **Spread:** 300-800 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.2-0.3 cm - **Bloom Season:** Year-round - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Wind ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Bees visit its small flowers for nectar. - **Eaten by:** Yellow Warbler (*Dendroica petechia*) — Its seeds are a food source for warblers. - **Shelter:** [Brown Pelican](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-pelican) (*Pelecanus occidentalis*) — Pelicans often perch on its sturdy branches. - **Shelter:** Blue Land Crab (*Cardisoma guanhumi*) — Crabs find cool shade and protection. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Shade Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/shade-tolerant): Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [Fruit Bearing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fruit-bearing): Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds. - [Salt Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/salt-tolerant): Salt tolerant plants can withstand and grow in conditions with elevated salinity levels in the soil or water. - [Timber](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/timber): Timber refers to wood that has been prepared for use in building and carpentry. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Stay away from the tree's branches and roots to avoid tripping or getting hurt. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Green Buttonwood? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is Green Buttonwood? 300-1500 cm ### How wide does Green Buttonwood spread? 300-800 cm ### How big are the flowers on Green Buttonwood? 0.2-0.3 cm ### When does Green Buttonwood bloom? Year-round ### Is Green Buttonwood edible? No ### Is Green Buttonwood toxic? None ### What is Green Buttonwood's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Curry Hammock State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/curry-hammock-state-park) — Florida, US · State Park - [Jericoacoara National Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/jericoacoara-national-park) — BR · Park - [Lençóis Maranhenses National Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/lencois-maranhenses-national-park) — BR · Park [View all places to see Green Buttonwood](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/green-buttonwood) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Green Buttonwood: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/green-buttonwood)