Red Mangrove

(Rhizophora mangle)

Classification

  • Kingdom: Plantae

  • Phylum: Tracheophyta

  • Class: Magnoliopsida

  • Order: Malpighiales

  • Family: Rhizophoraceae

  • Genus: Rhizophora

  • Species: Rhizophora mangle

Common Names

  • Red Mangrove

  • American Mangrove

Identification

  • Leaves: Thick, leathery, opposite, dark green, and shiny with a distinctive reddish tinge to the stems and petioles.

  • Flowers: Small, pale yellow or white, occurring in clusters.

  • Fruit: A propagule that is elongated and pendulous, not opening upon falling into the water.

  • Roots: Notable for its dense tangle of prop roots that appear to hold the tree above the water, which help in oxygen intake and stabilize the sediment.

Habitat

  • Distribution: Found along coastlines in tropical and subtropical regions worldwide, including the Americas, Africa, and Southeast Asia.

  • Natural Habitat: Thrives in saline environments like tidal waters where few other plants can survive, including estuaries, lagoons, and mudflats.

Ecological Role

  • Coastal Protection: Stabilizes shorelines and prevents erosion by buffering wave action and trapping sediments with its root systems.

  • Carbon Sequestration: Highly effective at sequestering carbon, which helps mitigate climate change.

  • Biodiversity: Provides a critical habitat for a variety of wildlife, including fish, birds, and crustaceans. Mangrove ecosystems are among the most productive and biologically complex ecosystems on earth.

Uses

  • Environmental: Essential for coastal protection and erosion control.

  • Wood: The wood is resistant to rot and insects, making it valuable for building materials, though harvesting is often restricted to protect ecosystems.

  • Traditional Medicine: Various parts of the plant are used in traditional remedies in different cultures.

Conservation

  • Status: Not currently listed as endangered globally, but local threats include habitat destruction due to coastal development, pollution, and climate change.

  • Conservation Efforts: Many areas are protected under local and international laws, and restoration projects are common where degradation has occurred.

Research

  • Ongoing studies focus on its role in coastal ecosystem services, resilience to climate change impacts like rising sea levels, and the restoration of degraded mangrove forests.