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Mangrove Flower Wikimedia Commons
Rhizophoraceae

Mangrove Flower

Rhizophora mangle

Resilience and adaptation.

Family
Rhizophoraceae
Genus
Rhizophora
Native to
Tropical Americas, West Africa, Pacific Islands
Bloom season
Spring, Summer
Type
tree
Height
20-80 ft
Sunlight
full sun
Soil
saline, muddy, waterlogged
Water
high
Hardiness
10-12
Lifespan
perennial

Did you know

  • Mangrove flowers are pollinated by wind and insects, and their seeds germinate while still attached to the parent tree in a process called vivipary.
  • Red mangroves can filter out up to 97 percent of the salt in seawater through their root membranes.
  • Mangrove forests protect coastlines from hurricane damage, reducing wave energy by up to 66 percent.
  • The small, leathery flowers produce a light honey that is prized in Florida and the Caribbean for its mild, distinctive flavor.
  • One acre of mangrove forest can sequester up to four times more carbon than an acre of tropical rainforest.

Color meanings

0

resilience

1

adaptability

2

protection

3

interconnection

Uses

  • coastal erosion prevention
  • honey production
  • marine habitat
  • carbon sequestration