Laguncularia racemosa is a medium-sized tree or shrub, covered in thick, scaly bark, often reddish in color. The smooth, leathery leaves are up to 7 cm in length, opposite, with a silvery to yellow-green cast. Oval in shape and rounded at both apices, the leaves are often a distinguishing characteristic, differentiating L. racemosa from other mangrove species. White mangroves also exhibit unique glands called extra-floral nectaries found on either side of the stem at the leaf base. These structures excrete sugars which may attract ants that protect the plant from herbivorous insects (Hogarth 2007). Flowers are small and white, blooming at the leaf axils or branch tips. Fruits are about 2 cm in length, greenish with longitudinal ribs.