# black mangrove (*Avicennia germinans*) The black mangrove is a special tree that grows in muddy coastal areas. It has unique roots that stick up out of the ground to help it breathe and stay strong in the water. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 3 - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![black mangrove](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Avicennia_germinans_shallow_water.jpg&width=800) Photo: Ianaré Sévi, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Avicennia_germinans_shallow_water.jpg) ## Appearance The black mangrove has distinctive dark, fissured bark and leathery, oval leaves that are shiny green above and silvery-white below. Its small, four-petaled flowers are creamy white, clustered at branch tips, offering a subtle contrast to the dark foliage. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Lamiales - **Family:** Acanthaceae - **Genus:** Avicennia ## Interesting facts - Fallen black mangrove leaves feed tiny creatures at the bottom of the food web! - Indigenous peoples traditionally used parts of this tree for medicine and even dyes! - Its bark is so dark it gives the tree its common name, making it easy to spot! - This amazing tree creates new land by trapping sediment with its dense root system! ## Special abilities - **Salt Sweaters:** Black mangrove can remove excess salt through glands on its leaves, making them appear silvery, helping it thrive in saltwater. - **Breathing Roots:** Black mangrove has specialized, pencil-like root projections called pneumatophores that help its roots get oxygen in waterlogged soil. - **Live Birthers:** Black mangrove can germinate its seeds while still attached to the tree, allowing seedlings to quickly establish in soft mud. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 500-1000 cm - **Spread:** 300-800 cm - **Flower Size:** 0.5-1 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring to Summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Honey Bee (*Apis mellifera*) — Bees gather nectar and pollen from its flowers. - **Eaten by:** Mangrove Tree Crab (*Aratus pisonii*) — This crab climbs the tree to graze on its leaves. - **Shelter:** Fiddler Crab (*Uca pugnax*) — Crabs find shelter and food among its roots and leaf litter. - **Shelter:** [Snowy Egret](https://www.snappit.app/explore/snowy-egret) (*Egretta thula*) — Birds nest and roost within its dense canopy and branches. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Broadleaf Tree](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/broadleaf-tree): Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates. - [Evergreen](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/evergreen): Evergreen plants retain their foliage throughout the year, never shedding all their leaves at once. - [Salt Tolerant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/salt-tolerant): Salt tolerant plants can withstand and grow in conditions with elevated salinity levels in the soil or water. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Ancient Lineage](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ancient-lineage): This trait signifies organisms belonging to a very old evolutionary group with ancestors dating back millions of years. - [Longevous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/longevous): This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Stay on paths and be careful near water when exploring mangroves. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify black mangrove? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is black mangrove? 500-1000 cm ### How wide does black mangrove spread? 300-800 cm ### How big are the flowers on black mangrove? 0.5-1 cm ### When does black mangrove bloom? Spring to Summer ### Is black mangrove edible? No ### Is black mangrove toxic? None ### What is black mangrove's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Boca Chita Key Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/boca-chita-key-historic-district) — US · Historic District - [Cedar Key Scrub State Reserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cedar-key-scrub-state-reserve) — Florida, US · State Park - [McKee Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mckee-botanical-garden) — Florida, US · Botanical Garden - [Monroe Lake Archeological District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/monroe-lake-archeological-district) — Florida, US · Historic District - [Palma Sola Botanical Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/palma-sola-botanical-park) — Florida, US · Botanical Garden - [Curry Hammock State Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/curry-hammock-state-park) — Florida, US · State Park [View all places to see black mangrove](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/black-mangrove) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Black Mangrove: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-mangrove)