Red Mangrove Seedling | Rhizophora Mangle | Large Live Plants | Saltwater Aquarium Reef Filtration Aquatic Foliage | Shoreline Restoration & Protection

The term ÒmangroveÓ applies to an array of salt-tolerant tropical trees or shrubs. Of the more than 50 species of mangrove worldwide, four are found in the United States, and one of the best known is the red mangrove. Red mangroves, which are broad-leaved evergreen trees, are easily identified by their remarkable aboveground prop roots that transport air to their waterlogged belowground roots.

In the U.S., red mangroves are native to Florida, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, but they are also present as an exotic species in Hawaii. Red mangroves grow at sea level right along the shore. Tangles of prop roots along the coast trap sediment that moves with the tide, which gradually builds up soil around the plants. Red mangroves, together with the other three U.S. mangrove speciesÑblack mangroves, white mangroves, and buttonwoodÑform vast coastal forests.

Small, yellow flowers blossom on red mangroves and are pollinated by wind. The seeds then sprout roots while still on the tree. After a few months, the seed drops to the ground and can immediately begin to grow. Seeds that drop into the water float along until they reach a suitable area to put down their roots.

Mangrove forests are an incredibly important ecosystem in the Southeast. Red mangroves are particularly significant, because as they are found at the waterÕs edge, their submerged roots provide a nursery habitat to fish and crustaceans. They also provide a habitat for a number of mammals, birds, and reptiles.