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On the Wild Side
Mangrove
Forest
Photo Credit: Kevin Copeman
Provided by Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission
Mangrove forests are a distinct saltwater woodland
that thrive in tidal estuaries and low-energy shorelines
throughout the tropics and sub-tropics. Florida’s
mangroves are typically found south of Cedar Key
(Levy County) on the Gulf Coast and south of Cape
Canaveral (Brevard County) on the Atlantic Coast.
They grow in coastal intertidal environments and
are able to tolerate a wide range of saline waters,
from nearly fresh to very high salt content in
coastal waters. Florida’s mangrove forests primarily
consist of four trees: red mangrove (Rhizophora
mangle), black mangrove (Avicennia germinans),
white mangrove (Laguncularia racemosa) and
buttonwood (Conocarpus erectus). Red mangrove
is found closest to and often growing in the water.
They are easily identified by their intertwined, red
arching roots, called prop roots. The black mangrove
is found further landward and can be identified
by its distinct pneumatophores, which are dark,
woody, fingerlike projections growing vertically
from the soil. White mangroves occur at higher
elevations than black and red mangroves, and are
identified by their lack of visible roots. Buttonwood
is considered an upland species because it typically
grows above the area affected by tides. They can
be identified by their button-like, or cone-shaped,
fruit clusters. Buttonwood is not considered a true
mangrove species because it lacks the distinctive
reproductive and root characteristics of red, black,
and white mangroves. For more information visit
www.myfwc.com
/www.myfwc.com