Mangrove | Definition, Types, Importance, Uses, & Facts

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id="content" class="md-content"> <div class="md-article-container template-desktop"> <div class="infinite-scroll-container article last"> <article class="article-content container-lg qa-content px-0 pt-0 pb-40 py-lg-20 content " data-topic-id="362022"> <div class="grid gx-0"> <div class="col-auto"> <div class="topic-left-rail md-article-drawer position-relative d-flex border-right-sm border-left-sm open"> <div class="drawer d-flex flex-column open"> <div class="left-rail-section-content"> <div class="topic-left-rail-header text-truncate bg-gray-50 position-relative text-right d-flex align-items-center"> <div class="tlr-title px-20 py-15 text-left"> <em class="material-icons text-gray-400 d-lg-none" data-icon="toc"></em> <a class="font-serif font-weight-bold text-black link-blue" href="https://www.britannica.com/plant/mangrove">mangrove</a> </div> <button aria-label="Close" class="js-sections-close-button btn-link btn-sm btn d-lg-none position-absolute top-0 p-10 right-0" > <em class="material-icons font-26" data-icon="close"></em> </button> </div> <div class="section-content pl-10 pr-20 pl-sm-50 pr-sm-60 pl-lg-5 pr-lg-10 pt-10 pt-lg-0 bg-gray-50 clear-catfish-ad"> <div class="toc mb-20"> <div class="font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mx-15 mb-15 mt-20"> Table of Contents </div> <span class="toc-extra-link selected link-gray-900 mt-15"> Introduction </span> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="https://www.britannica.com/plant/mangrove/additional-info">References & Edit History</a> <a class="toc-extra-link link-gray-900" href="/facts/mangrove">Related Topics</a> </div> <div class="tlr-media-slider pb-10 mb-30"> <a class="section-header link-gray-900 font-serif font-14 font-weight-bold mb-10 mx-10" href="https://www.britannica.com/plant/mangrove/images-videos">Images</a> <div class="slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100 "> <div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex overflow-hidden text-nowrap ml-15"> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/28/5928-050-253A634B/Mangroves-tide-coast-Thailand.jpg" data-href="/media/1/362022/576" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/28/5928-004-DD082DF1/Mangroves-tide-coast-Thailand.jpg" alt="mangrove roots, Thailand" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/09/161909-050-50C70C47/Silver-baitfish-mangrove-channel-South-Bimini-Bahamas.jpg" data-href="/media/1/362022/172637" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/09/161909-004-6BCF1F98/Silver-baitfish-mangrove-channel-South-Bimini-Bahamas.jpg" alt="mangrove habitat" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/09/157509-050-8AC36913/Mangroves-coast-Indian-Ocean-Mozambique.jpg" data-href="/media/1/362022/205054" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/09/157509-004-C026AFC9/Mangroves-coast-Indian-Ocean-Mozambique.jpg" alt="Mozambique: mangroves on coast" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/32/193432-050-D1A3C6F6/propagules-Great-Barrier-Reef.jpg" data-href="/media/1/362022/217444" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/32/193432-004-7F391E9B/propagules-Great-Barrier-Reef.jpg" alt="mangrove propagule" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/06/2306-004-D01C8E03/mangrove.jpg" data-href="/media/1/362022/6504" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/06/2306-004-D01C8E03/mangrove.jpg" alt="Common mangrove (Rhizophora mangle)" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/52/5652-050-8D9E0B8C/mangroves.jpg" data-href="/media/1/362022/8416" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/52/5652-004-BF3ED383/mangroves.jpg" alt="black mangroves" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/30/191830-050-DCEEA999/roots-mangrove-trees-Tha-Pom-Khlong-Song.jpg" data-href="/media/1/362022/250123" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/30/191830-004-AC0C69B2/roots-mangrove-trees-Tha-Pom-Khlong-Song.jpg" alt="mangrove roots" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/47/192547-050-62F6CAED/mangrove-forest-Roatan-Honduras.jpg" data-href="/media/1/362022/250122" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/47/192547-004-12634B67/mangrove-forest-Roatan-Honduras.jpg" alt="mangrove forest" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/12/94512-050-B2B88F41/Mangroves-coast-Caribbean-Belize.jpg" data-href="/media/1/362022/96127" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/12/94512-004-8679CE7D/Mangroves-coast-Caribbean-Belize.jpg" alt="mangrove forest" height="50" /> </a> <a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/59/3059-050-745583BB/Mangroves-palms-Loxahatchee-River-Florida.jpg" data-href="/media/1/362022/3012" class="media-overlay-link d-inline-block mr-5"> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/59/3059-004-44FF962F/Mangroves-palms-Loxahatchee-River-Florida.jpg" alt="Mangroves with palms" height="50" /> </a> </div> <button disabled class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-blue " aria-label="Previous"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span> </button> <button disabled class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-blue " aria-label="Next"> <span class="material-icons md-24" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span> </button> </div> </div> <div class="mb-30 tlr-related-quizzes"> <div class="text-gray-900 p-5 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And How Does It Work?</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="md-websites-ebk-title">Britannica Websites</div> <div class="md-websites-ebk-subtitle">Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students.</div> <ul class="list-unstyled bps-topic-web-sites lh-lg"> <li><a class="external" href="https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/mangrove/390252" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mangrove - Children's Encyclopedia (Ages 8-11)</a></li> <li><a class="external" href="https://kids.britannica.com/students/article/mangrove/275664" target="_blank" rel="noopener">mangrove - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up)</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="toc-header-marker"></div> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 js-header-ai-ask-button d-none btn-sm btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 mr-0 mr-lg-10 ml-5 ml-sm-10 ml-lg-0 p-10"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> <div class="md-byline module-spacing "> <div class="font-serif font-12"> <span class="written-by text-gray-700"> Written and fact-checked by </span> <div class="editor-popover popover p-0"> <a class="d-block p-20 gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor" href="/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419" > <div class="editor-title font-16 font-weight-bold">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</div> <div class="editor-description font-12 font-serif mt-5 text-black">Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.</div> </a> <div data-popper-arrow></div> </div> <span class="btn btn-link editor-link p-0 qa-byline-link gtm-byline font-12 byline-contributor text-decoration-underline"> The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</span></div> <div class="last-updated font-12 font-serif"> <span class="text-gray-700"> Last Updated: <time datetime="2024-11-12T00:00:00CST" >Nov 12, 2024</time> •</span> <a class="byline-edit-history" href="https://www.britannica.com/plant/mangrove/additional-info#history" rel="nofollow">Article History</a> </div></div> </div> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button d-none d-sm-block js-sections-inline-button module-spacing btn d-lg-none"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <div class="d-flex d-sm-none flex-row"> <button class="d-flex d-lg-none btn btn-outline-blue border rounded-sm shadow-sm mobile-toc-button gtm-mobile-toc-inline-button js-sections-inline-button module-spacing"> <em class="material-icons mr-5 ml-n10 my-n5 md-icon" data-icon="toc"></em> Table of Contents </button> <button class="ai-ask-button btn border-2 ai-ask-button btn border-2 module-spacing btn-sm js-inline-ai-ask-button btn-outline-red-400 border-red-400 p-10 ml-5"> Ask the Chatbot a Question </button> </div> <div class="js-qf-module qf-module px-40 px-sm-20 py-15 mx-auto module-spacing font-14 bg-gray-50 rounded"> <div class="facts-list mt-10"> <div class=""> <div class="js-fact mb-10 line-clamp clamp-3"> <dl> <dt>Related Topics: </dt> <dd><a href="/plant/angiosperm" topicid="24667">angiosperm</a></dd> <dd><a href="/plant/nipa-palm" topicid="415827">nipa palm</a></dd> <dd><a href="/plant/Avicennia-nitida" topicid="68018">Avicennia nitida</a></dd> <dd><a href="/plant/common-mangrove" topicid="128486">common mangrove</a></dd> </dl> <button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-gray-50" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"> <em class="js-content link-blue">(Show more)</em> </button> </div> <div class="text-center"> <a class="btn btn-sm btn-link p-0" href="/facts/mangrove"> See all related content </a> </div> </div> </div> </div><span class="marker before-article"></span><section data-level="1" id="ref1"><span class="marker PREMOD1 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph"><strong><span id="ref137383"></span>mangrove</strong>, any of certain shrubs and trees that belong primarily to the families Rhizophoraceae, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/plant/Acanthaceae" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Acanthaceae</a>, Lythraceae, Combretaceae, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/plant/palm-tree" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Arecaceae</a>; that grow in dense thickets or forests along tidal estuaries, in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/salt-marsh" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">salt marshes</a>, and on muddy coasts; and that characteristically have prop roots—i.e., exposed supporting roots. The term <em>mangrove</em> also applies to thickets and forests of such plants. Respiratory or knee roots (<span id="ref1267897"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/pneumatophore-root-system" class="md-crosslink ">pneumatophores</a>) are characteristic of many species; they project above the mud and have small openings (lenticels) through which air enters, passing through the soft spongy tissue to the roots beneath the mud.</p><span class="marker MOD1 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD2 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="172637" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/09/161909-050-50C70C47/Silver-baitfish-mangrove-channel-South-Bimini-Bahamas.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/362022/172637"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/09/161909-050-50C70C47/Silver-baitfish-mangrove-channel-South-Bimini-Bahamas.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/09/161909-050-50C70C47/Silver-baitfish-mangrove-channel-South-Bimini-Bahamas.jpg?w=300" alt="mangrove habitat" data-width="1500" data-height="1000" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/09/161909-050-50C70C47/Silver-baitfish-mangrove-channel-South-Bimini-Bahamas.jpg" data-href="/media/1/362022/172637">mangrove habitat</a><span>Silver baitfish in a mangrove channel on South Bimini Island, Bahamas.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">Mangroves are extremely important to the coastal ecosystems they inhabit. Physically, they serve as a buffer between marine and terrestrial <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="communities" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/communities" data-type="MW">communities</a> and protect shorelines from damaging <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/wind" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">winds</a>, <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/wave-physics" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">waves</a>, and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/flood" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">floods</a>. Mangrove thickets improve water quality by filtering <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/water-pollution" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">pollutants</a> and trapping sediments from the land, and they reduce coastal <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/erosion-geology" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">erosion</a>. Ecologically, they provide <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/habitat-biology" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">habitat</a> for a <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="diverse" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diverse" data-type="MW">diverse</a> array of terrestrial organisms, and many species of coastal and offshore <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/fish" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">fish</a> and <a href="https://www.britannica.com/animal/shellfish-animal" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">shellfish</a> rely exclusively on mangroves as their breeding, spawning, and hatching grounds. Because of their high salt tolerance, mangroves are often among the first species to colonize mud and sandbanks flooded by <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/seawater" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">seawater</a>, but an increase in coastal development and altered land use led to a decline in global populations. Several species are listed as <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off mw" data-term="vulnerable" href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vulnerable" data-type="MW">vulnerable</a> or <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/endangered-species" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">endangered</a> on the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/International-Union-for-Conservation-of-Nature" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">International Union for Conservation of Nature</a> (IUCN) <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/IUCN-Red-List-of-Threatened-Species" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">Red List of Threatened Species</a>.</p><span class="marker MOD2 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD3 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="205054" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/09/157509-050-8AC36913/Mangroves-coast-Indian-Ocean-Mozambique.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/362022/205054"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/09/157509-050-8AC36913/Mangroves-coast-Indian-Ocean-Mozambique.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/09/157509-050-8AC36913/Mangroves-coast-Indian-Ocean-Mozambique.jpg?w=300" alt="Mozambique: mangroves on coast" data-width="1600" data-height="1067" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/09/157509-050-8AC36913/Mangroves-coast-Indian-Ocean-Mozambique.jpg" data-href="/media/1/362022/205054">Mozambique: mangroves on coast</a><span>Mangroves on the Indian Ocean coast of Mozambique.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">Mangrove flora along the Atlantic coast of tropical <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/United-States" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">America</a> and along the coast of the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Gulf-of-Mexico" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Gulf of Mexico</a> to <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Florida" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Florida</a> consists chiefly of the <span id="ref137384"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/plant/common-mangrove" class="md-crosslink ">common</a>, or red, mangrove (<em>Rhizophora mangle</em>) of the family Rhizophoraceae and the <span id="ref137385"></span><a href="https://www.britannica.com/plant/Avicennia" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">black mangroves</a> (usually <em>Avicennia nitida,</em> sometimes <em>A. marina</em>) of the family Acanthaceae. Mangrove formations in <a href="https://www.britannica.com/place/Southeast-Asia" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">Southeast Asia</a> also include <em>Sonneratia</em> of the family Lythraceae and the nipa palm (<em>Nypa fruticans</em>) of the family Arecaceae. The trunks and branches of most mangrove species constantly produce adventitious roots, which, descending in arched fashion, strike at some distance from the parent stem and send up new trunks.</p><a class="link-module shadow-sm d-block qa-quiz-module" href="/quiz/all-things-green-quiz" data-link-module-iframe-link=""> <img loading="lazy" src="https://cdn.britannica.com/24/172924-131-AE786B5E/trees-coniferous-forest-springtime-bank-forestry-wood.jpg" alt="trees deciduous and coniferous. trees grow on a bank of a forest in springtime in Alberta, British Columbia, Canada. logging, forestry, wood, lumber, wilderness" class="rounded-sm mr-15" width="70" /> <div class="line-clamp clamp-5"> <div class="module-title bg-green">Britannica Quiz</div> <div class="font-weight-semi-bold mt-5">All Things Green Quiz</div> </div> </a><span class="marker MOD3 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD4 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies multiple medialist slider js-slider position-relative d-inline-flex align-items-center mw-100" data-type="other"><div class="slider-container js-slider-container overflow-hidden d-flex"><div class="rw-track d-flex align-items-center"><div class="position-relative rw-slide col-100 px-20 "><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="217444" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/32/193432-050-D1A3C6F6/propagules-Great-Barrier-Reef.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/362022/217444"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/32/193432-050-D1A3C6F6/propagules-Great-Barrier-Reef.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/32/193432-050-D1A3C6F6/propagules-Great-Barrier-Reef.jpg?w=300" alt="mangrove propagule" data-width="1600" data-height="1200" loading="eager"></picture><div class="position-absolute top-10 left-10 assembly-slide-tag rounded-lg">1 of 2</div><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/32/193432-050-D1A3C6F6/propagules-Great-Barrier-Reef.jpg" data-href="/media/1/362022/217444">mangrove propagule</a><span>Mangrove propagules (<em>Rhizophora</em> species) floating near the Great Barrier Reef.</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div><div class="position-relative rw-slide col-100 px-20 "><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="6504" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/06/2306-004-D01C8E03/mangrove.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/362022/6504"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/06/2306-004-D01C8E03/mangrove.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/06/2306-004-D01C8E03/mangrove.jpg?w=300" alt="Common mangrove (Rhizophora mangle)" data-width="288" data-height="450" loading="eager"></picture><div class="position-absolute top-10 left-10 assembly-slide-tag rounded-lg">2 of 2</div><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/06/2306-004-D01C8E03/mangrove.jpg" data-href="/media/1/362022/6504">Common mangrove (<em>Rhizophora mangle</em>)</a><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div></div><button disabled="true" class="prev-button js-prev-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_left"></span></button><button disabled="true" class="next-button js-next-button position-absolute btn btn-circle shadow btn-lg btn-blue-dark m-20"><span class="material-icons" data-icon="keyboard_arrow_right"></span></button></div><p class="topic-paragraph">The common mangrove grows to about 9 metres (30 feet) tall. The <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/leaf-plant-anatomy" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">leaves</a> are 5 to 15 cm (2 to 6 inches) long, opposite, oval or elliptic, and smooth-edged; they are thick, have leathery surfaces, and are borne on short stems. The <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/flower" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">flowers</a> are pale yellow. While the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/fruit-plant-reproductive-body" class="md-crosslink " data-show-preview="true">fruit</a> is still attached to the parent branch, the long embryonic <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/root-plant" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">root</a> emerges from the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/seed-plant-reproductive-part" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">seed</a> and grows rapidly downward. When this propagule falls, the young root is in the correct position to be driven into the mud; the <a href="https://www.britannica.com/plant/plant" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">plant</a> being thus rooted, the shoot makes its appearance. The young root may grow to such a length that it becomes fixed in the mud before the fruit separates from the parent tree.</p><span class="marker MOD4 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD5 mod-inline"></span><div class="assemblies"><div class="w-100"><figure class="md-assembly m-0 mb-md-0 card card-borderless print-false" data-assembly-id="8416" data-asm-type="image"><div class="md-assembly-wrapper card-media " data-type="image"><a href="https://cdn.britannica.com/52/5652-050-8D9E0B8C/mangroves.jpg" class="gtm-assembly-link position-relative d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center media-overlay-link card-media" data-href="/media/1/362022/8416"><picture><source media="(min-width: 680px)" srcset="https://cdn.britannica.com/52/5652-050-8D9E0B8C/mangroves.jpg?w=300"><img src="https://cdn.britannica.com/52/5652-050-8D9E0B8C/mangroves.jpg?w=300" alt="black mangroves" data-width="1363" data-height="910" loading="eager"></picture><button class="magnifying-glass btn btn-circle position-absolute shadow btn-white top-10 right-10" aria-label="Zoom in"><em class="material-icons link-blue" data-icon="zoom_in"></em></button></a></div><figcaption class="card-body"><div class="md-assembly-caption text-muted font-14 font-serif line-clamp"><span><a class="gtm-assembly-link md-assembly-title font-weight-bold d-inline font-sans-serif mr-5 media-overlay-link" href="https://cdn.britannica.com/52/5652-050-8D9E0B8C/mangroves.jpg" data-href="/media/1/362022/8416">black mangroves</a><span>Black mangroves (<em>Avicennia germinans</em>).</span><button class="js-more-btn d-none btn btn-unstyled font-12 bg-white js-content" aria-label="Toggle more/less fact data"><span class="link-blue">(more)</span></button></span></div></figcaption></figure></div></div><p class="topic-paragraph">The black mangrove, usually of <a class="md-dictionary-link md-dictionary-tt-off eb" data-term="moderate" href="https://www.britannica.com/dictionary/moderate" data-type="EB">moderate</a> height, sometimes grows 18 to 21 metres (59 to 69 feet) tall. The leaves are 5 to 7.5 cm (2 to 3 inches) long, opposite, oblong or spear-shaped; the upper surface is green and glossy, the lower surface whitish or grayish. The white flowers are small, inconspicuous, and fragrant and are frequented by honeybees for their abundant nectar.</p><div class="one-good-fact-module"> </div><span class="marker MOD5 mod-inline"></span><span class="marker PREMOD6 mod-inline"></span><p class="topic-paragraph">The <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/wood-plant-tissue" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">wood</a> of some species is hard and durable. The astringent <a href="https://www.britannica.com/science/bark-plant-tissue" class="md-crosslink autoxref " data-show-preview="true">bark</a> yields a water-soluble tanning substance. The fruit of the common mangrove is sweet and wholesome.</p><span class="marker MOD6 mod-inline"></span></section> <span class="md-signature"><a href="/editor/The-Editors-of-Encyclopaedia-Britannica/4419">The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica</a></span> <span class="md-signature">This article was most recently revised and updated by <a href="/editor/Adam-Augustyn/6394">Adam Augustyn</a>.</span><span class="marker end-of-content"></span><span class="marker after-article"></span></div> <div id="chatbot-root"></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="ai-dialog-placeholder"></div> </div> </div> <aside class="col-md-da-320"></aside> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article></div> </div></div> </div> </main> <div id="md-footer"></div> <noscript><iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5W6NC8" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript> <script type="text/javascript" id="_informizely_script_tag"> var IzWidget = IzWidget || {}; (function (d) { var scriptElement = d.createElement('script'); scriptElement.type = 'text/javascript'; scriptElement.async = true; scriptElement.src = "https://insitez.blob.core.windows.net/site/f780f33e-a610-4ac2-af81-3eb184037547.js"; var node = d.getElementById('_informizely_script_tag'); node.parentNode.insertBefore(scriptElement, node); } )(document); </script>  <script> window.ap3c = window.ap3c || {}; var ap3c = window.ap3c; ap3c.cmd = ap3c.cmd || []; ap3c.cmd.push(function() { ap3c.init('ZO4siT4cLwnykPnzZWJtd3Byb2Q', 'https://engage.email.britannica.com/'); ap3c.track({v: 0}); }); ap3c.activity = function(act) { ap3c.act = (ap3c.act || []); ap3c.act.push(act); }; var s, t; s = document.createElement('script'); s.type = 'text/javascript'; s.src = "https://engage.email.britannica.com/app.js"; t = document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; t.parentNode.insertBefore(s, t); </script> <script class="marketing-page-info" type="application/json"> {"pageType":"Topic","templateName":"DESKTOP","pageNumber":1,"pagesTotal":1,"pageId":362022,"pageLength":545,"initialLoad":true,"lastPageOfScroll":false} </script> <script class="marketing-content-info" type="application/json"> [] </script> <script src="https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/js/libs/jquery-3.5.0.min.js?v=3.130.14"></script> <script type="text/javascript" data-type="Init Mendel Code Splitting"> (function() { $.ajax({ dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: 'https://cdn.britannica.com/mendel-resources/3-130/dist/topic-page.js?v=3.130.14' }); })(); </script> <script class="analytics-metadata" type="application/json"> {"leg":"D","adLeg":"D","userType":"ANONYMOUS","pageType":"Topic","pageSubtype":null,"articleTemplateType":"MEDIUM","gisted":false,"pageNumber":1,"hasSummarizeButton":false,"hasAskButton":false} </script> <script type="text/javascript"> EBStat={accountId:-1,hostnameOverride:'webstats.eb.com',domain:'www.britannica.com', json:''}; </script> <script type="text/javascript"> ( function() { $.ajax( { dataType: 'script', cache: true, url: '//www.britannica.com/webstats/mendelstats.js?v=1' } ) .done( function() { try {writeStat(null,EBStat);} catch(err){} } ); })(); </script> <div id="bc-fixed-dialogue"></div> </body> </html>

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Mangrove | Definition, Types, Importance, Uses, & Facts | Britannica