Difference between red black and white mangroves?

Answer 1

Red mangroves:-live in deepest salt-water of the three, going from a few inches to over a foot deep.

-have large prop-roots, often times called "walking roots", with thick lenticels for gas exchange.

-named "red" because they produce chemicals called tannins that turn the water and mud a rusty color.

-leaves are broadly-elliptical and the largest of the three (about 3 to 5 inches long).

-viviparous propagules can survive in salt water for over a year.

Black mangroves:-live in a few inches of salt water, further inland than the Red mangroves. They can withstand higher levels of salt.

-have pneumatophores, straw-like roots that stick out vertically from the mud for gas exchange.

-named "black" because the older sections of the trunk and heartwood are blackish in color.

-leaves are narrow-elliptical and are about 2 to 4 inches long. The leaves have salt crystals formed on the top side; this is an adaption to living in high salt concentrations.

-viviparous propagules can survive in salt water for at least 4 months.

White mangroves:-live farthest away from the water of the three, just above the water level that the black mangrove lives in.

-sometimes have pneumatophores but they are usually less common. When pneumatophores are present they are usually less prominent than on the black.

-named "white" because of the whitish appearance of the bark.

-leaves are rounded elliptical, have two small glands at leaf base, and are more-yellow green in color.

-viviparous propagules can survive in salt water for at least 1 month.