Page 6 - Caribbean Reef Life Demo

MANGROVES : MARINE PLANTS
RED MANGROVE
(Rhizophora mangle) < 24 m / 80 ft
Long prop roots from the water, supporting the tree. Dark reen lea es. ound ro in closest to the shoreline.
WHITE MANGROVE (Laguncularia racemosa) < 15 m / 50 ft Brown to reddish scaly bark. Leathery yellowish-green lea es ith rounded ti s. ound on hi her land.
BLACK MANGROVE
(Avicennia germinans) < 20 m / 66 ft
ar ro n scal ar . hin reen lea es. urrounded short aerial roots. ound inshore of ed an ro es.
BUTTONWOOD
(Conocarpus erectus) < 12 m / 40 ft maller than the true man ro es. istincti e clum s of rounded berries. Found furthest from the shoreline.
The importance of mangrove forests is slowly being understood in the Caribbean for their role in keeping local sh populations healthy and for breaking up the storm surge that can damage coastal communities. Tourists are becoming increasingly interested in visiting these ecosystems as well, hopefully allowing local populations to see the bene t of leaving them untouched. Coral reefs and mangrove forests are two environments that exist side by side, closely interwoven.
cess salt on lea es. u eniles hidin in ro roots. an ro e seed ods.
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