Nypa fruticans (Thunb) Wurmb. 

Dichotomously branched, rhizomatous stem, underground fibrous root 
No aerial roots but the leaf rachis base are spongy and act as the aerial roots fro gaseous exchange. 
Leaves pinnately compound, spirally arranged on the top of the rhizomatous stem 
Leaves upto 5 m long, rachis stout, glabrous, sheathing base upto 60 cm diam., terete, shiny, green, glabrous, isobilateral, distinct mid-vein, unicostate parallel venation. 
Inflorescence spadix on a long peduncle, upto 50 cm long cylindrical, several spathe enclosed 
Male flowers gregariosly in each peduncle, covered by spathe 
Tepals 6, polytepalous in two whorls, ovate, elliptic, entirem acute, tufted, glabrous, shiny 
Stamens 3, united to form central column, anthers bilobed, upt o 0.4 cm long 
Female flowers enclosed by spathe 
Tepals 6, as male tepals, carpels 3, free, angular but funnel shaped, unilocular 
Single ovule, basal placentation, style and stigma 0 
Fruits drupe, glabrous surface, dark brown epicarp, upto 12 cm long and 25 cm periphery, ridged and angular, mesocarp fibrous, endocarp thick. 
 
 

The plant looks like sunken coconut tree 
There is no well developed aerial roots 
Leaf looks like coconut leaf; leaf-base serve the function like aerial roots, pneumatophores for the gas exchange. 
Leaves 5-6 m long, pinnatisect, large, midrib woody, round 
Flowers monoecious on terminal erect branches, spadix 
Fruit large 10-15 cm, globose 1-seeded, seed length upto 10 cm modified hypogel germination, cryptoviviparous 

Economic Importance : Its inflorescence sap or juice is laso important for alcohol and mollasses preparation.