Mangrove Forest Flashcards
How are wetlands characterized?
- Fresh or salty water
- Temperatures average 24 C
- Anoxic soil
- Salinity
- Sunlight
- Shallow water
4 types of mangroves
- Red, Black and White mangrove
- Buttonwood
Where is the red mangrove found?
“ RHIZOPHORA MANGLE”
they are the most waterloving, grows in the water or along the shoreline or -on the coast
Describe the roots of the red mangrove
- reddish colored prop roots, that stabilize the tree in shifting mud againts winds and waves
- covered with breathing pores called lenticels which allows the root to obtain oxygen for the plant
EX. Snails, oysters, algae
Describe the leaves of the red mangrove
- Large, bright green with pointed tips
-Thick and leathery adapted to allow plants to conserve water - leaves turn yellow as they age (sacrificial leaves which accumulates salt)
- the leaves that fall from the tree forms **detritus ** ( decomposing matter )
Describe the flowers in the red mangrove ecosystem
- yellow- cream in color
- 4 sepals and 4 pointed white petals
Name of the fruit the red mangrove produces
Propagule ( prop roots )
Describe the roots of the black mangrove
“AVICENNIA GERMINANAS”
Characterized by a very dark ‘ blackish bark’
Roots called “pneumatophores” otherwise known as breathing roots which allows oxygen to diffuse into the roots to compensate for anoxic/anaerobic (without oxygen) conditions in the soil
Describe the leaves of the black mangrove
- pale green, pointed tip
- contains short hairs on the back to conserve water by reducing transpiration (the loss of water from a plant in the form of water vapor)
- most salt tolerant mangrove
- control the amount of salt in their tissues by excreting excess salt from the top surface of their leaves
Describe the flowers of the black mangrove and the fruit it produces
- small white flowers (4 petals which grow in clusters)
- produce green teardrop shaped fruit
Describe the roots of the White Mangrove
They have pneumatophores breathing roots which allows oxygen to diffuse into the roots to compensate for anoxic/anaerobic (without oxygen) conditions in the soil.
Decribe the leaves of the White Mangrove
- rounded tips, and are attached to the main stem by pinkish colored petioles.
- they have sugar glands called nectaries. The sugar attract insects for pollination (the act of transferring pollen grains from the male anther of a flower to the female stigma).
Describe the flowers of the White mangrove and the fruit it produces
The flowers are tiny white bell-shaped which grows in clusters.
They produce small, green, ribbed fruit which are shaped like kernels of corn.
Describe the leaves of Buttonwood
- may bear nectaries (sugar glands)
- The leaves may be green or silver in color
- The silver color is due to the presence of hairs on the leaf surface which conserve water by reducing the rate of transpiration
Describe the flowers of buttonwood and the fruit it produces
-flowers: tiny and grows in ball-like clusters (makes them look like a “puff ball”)
- fruit: their name ‘buttonwood’ comes from their reddish, round button shapes fruit
