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MANGROVES

Red: (Rhizophora mangle)

White: (Laguncularia racemo)

Black: (Avicennia germinans)

Button Wood: (Conocarpus erectus)

Order: Myrtales | Family: Rhizophoraceae

Mangroves are found in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, including Southeast Asia, West Africa, the Caribbean, Central and South America, and the coasts of Australia. They thrive in coastal areas where saltwater meets land. There are four main types of mangroves: red, black, white, and buttonwood. These unique ecosystems provide essential coastal protection, support diverse marine and terrestrial species, and play a critical role in maintaining ecological balance and mitigating climate change effects.

mangrove-types-root

Root

Red Mangrove : Aerial prop roots provide stability in waterlogged soils and allow for oxygen intake.

Black Mangrove: Vertical pneumatophores rise from the soil to capture oxygen in low-oxygen environments.

White Mangrove: Shallow roots, sometimes with small pneumatophores, adapted to saline soils with low oxygen levels.

Buttonwood Mangrove: Shallow underground roots without visible aerial structures, suited for firmer and drier soils.

mangrove-trunk-types (1)

Trunk

Red Mangrove Trunk: Thick, sturdy trunk supports aerial roots, providing resilience in fluctuating water levels and salinity.

Black Mangrove Trunk: Dark, rugged trunk with a rough texture, tolerates high salinity and periodic flooding.

White Mangrove Trunk: Smooth, pale trunk often surrounded by shallow roots, well-adapted to coastal environments.

Buttonwood Mangrove Trunk: Thin, upright trunk with scaly bark, growing in less waterlogged areas near mangrove forests.

mangrove-leave-types

Leaf

Red Mangroves: Red mangrove leaves are thick, waxy, and elliptical, designed to minimize salt intake and reduce water loss in saline environments.
 
Black Mangroves: Black mangrove leaves have salt-excreting glands on their surfaces, are typically small and narrow, and help manage high salinity levels.
 
White mangroves: White mangrove leaves are waxy and broad, with an oval shape, and may have salt glands to help them cope with saline conditions.
 
Buttonwood mangoves: Buttonwood mangrove leaves are leathery, elongated, and adapted to drier, less saline conditions, making them suitable for less waterlogged areas.
mangrove-flowers

Flower

Red Mangrove: Small, yellowish flowers, arranged in clusters, with four petals, appearing inconspicuous among the foliage.

Black Mangrove: Tiny white flowers, slightly fragrant, forming dense clusters, with a simple structure and smooth texture.

White Mangrove: Greenish-white flowers, small and clustered at branch tips, with a subtle appearance and delicate form.

Buttonwood Mangrove: Small greenish flowers, forming rounded, dense clusters, often blending with the surrounding leaves and branches.

mangrove-fruit-types

Fruit

Red Mangrove: Long, cylindrical propagules (not traditional fruits), resembling pencils, which fall and float to root.

Black Mangrove: Rounded, leathery fruits resembling lima beans, which contain a seed and float in water.

White Mangrove: Small, ribbed, greenish capsules that hold seeds, dispersed by water once mature.

Buttonwood Mangrove: Small, hard, button-like fruits, green or brown, containing seeds that disperse in nearby areas.

Identification and Origin: Red Mangroves feature distinctive stilt roots and leathery leaves, thriving along tropical coastlines. White Mangroves have round, flat-tipped leaves with small glands at their base and are found in coastal lagoons where saltwater influence is lower. Buttonwood Mangroves, distinguished by their lance-shaped leaves and button-like seed clusters, grow in drier, elevated coastal areas. Black Mangroves are recognized by their pneumatophores, or breathing roots, and silvery undersides of their leaves, inhabiting slightly higher ground in tropical coasts.

Height and Growth: Red Mangroves can grow up to 25 meters, rapidly adapting to muddy coastal areas. White Mangroves reach up to 20 meters and thrive in both dry and waterlogged soils. Buttonwood Mangroves grow between 10 and 20 meters, preferring sandy, well-drained soils, and are slower-growing. Black Mangroves can grow up to 20 meters, moderately expanding in salty, oxygen-poor soils with their extensive root systems.

mangrove-types

Geographic Distribution: Red Mangroves: Found along tropical coastlines in brackish waters. White Mangroves: Located in coastal lagoons and estuaries with less saline conditions. Buttonwood Mangroves: Inhabit slightly drier, elevated coastal regions, often farther from the waterline. Black Mangroves: Prefer salty, oxygen-poor soils in elevated zones near the sea, but not directly in waterlogged areas.

Ideal Climate: All species thrive in warm climates with tropical or subtropical temperatures.

Soil and proximity to the sea: Red Mangroves: Adapt to muddy, brackish soils with frequent tidal flooding. White Mangroves: Favor less saline, nutrient-rich soils. Buttonwood Mangroves: Prefer well-drained sandy soils. Black Mangroves: Thrive in salty, oxygen-poor soils in elevated areas close to the sea.

mangrove-distribution-map

5 Curious facts about  mangroves 

1.- Natural filters: Mangroves act as natural filters, trapping sediments and pollutants from inland waters before they reach the ocean. This helps protect nearby coral reefs and marine ecosystems by keeping the water cleaner.

2.- Storm protection: The dense roots of mangroves serve as natural barriers against hurricanes and storms, buffering the impact of waves and reducing coastal erosion, thus protecting shorelines.

3.- Marine nurseries: Mangroves are "nurseries" for many species of fish, crustaceans, and mollusks. Their submerged roots provide a safe haven for young marine animals to grow before venturing into open waters.

4.- Special breathing adaptations: Unlike most trees, mangroves have aerial roots called "pneumatophores" that stick out of the soil, allowing the trees to breathe in waterlogged and oxygen-poor soils.

5.- Salt tolerance: Mangroves have an amazing ability to survive in salty environments. Some filter saltwater through their roots, while others excrete excess salt through their leaves.

mangrove tree neumatophores