There are three different species of Mangrove Trees and they are very dominant in the Mangrove Swamps. These three species are the Red Mangrove, the White Mangrove, and the Black Mangrove.
Red Mangroves, or Rhizophora mangle, are some of the most recognizable plants in the Mangrove Ecosystem. They are so easily recognized because of their unique roots that can be seen above the water. These roots are an adaptation that these plants developed in order to deliver oxygen to their roots that are embedded underground. Red Mangrove heights have a range from 80 feet down to even 20 feet, sometimes making them look more like shrubs than trees.
The Black Mangrove, or the Avicennia germinans, is commonly taller than the Red Mangrove, ranging from 30-40 feet in height. They are recognized by the white flowers that they grow in the spring and summer or the salt on their leaves. The salt on their leaves is caused by their freaky adaptation where they can take in saltwater and filter out the salt so they can use the normal water. This is very strange considering they are found a bit more up the shore than the Red Mangroves.
The White Mangrove, also known as Laguncularia racemosa, is mostly the type of tree that is found more commonly up the shore compared to the other types of Mangrove Trees. They are also able to be distinguished by their unique leaf adaptations. The leaves each have two glands, and they are used to extract excess sugar from the rest of the tree. These trees are however the same general height as the Black Mangrove, as they also range from 30-40 feet.
