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.

Answer 2

Red mangroves (Rhizophora) have prop roots for support, while black mangroves (Avicennia) have aerial roots called pneumatophores for oxygen intake. White mangroves (Laguncularia) lack any specialized root structures and have glands that excrete excess salt. Red mangroves are found closest to the water, followed by black mangroves, and then white mangroves inland.