# red mangrove (*Rhizophora mangle*) The red mangrove is a special tree that grows in coastal areas. It has long roots that stick out of the water, helping to keep the shoreline safe and providing homes for many animals. - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 12 - **Habitat:** Coastal areas ![red mangrove](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Mangrove%252C_Petit-Canal%252C_Grande-Terre%252C_Guadeloupe%252C_2010-03-28-.jpg&width=800) Photo: Slaunger, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mangrove%252C_Petit-Canal%252C_Grande-Terre%252C_Guadeloupe%252C_2010-03-28-.jpg) ## Appearance The red mangrove is easily recognized by its distinctive arching prop roots that rise above the water, appearing reddish-brown. It has shiny, dark green oval leaves and small, pale yellowish flowers. Its bark is generally grayish but often shows red tones. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Malpighiales - **Family:** Rhizophoraceae - **Genus:** Rhizophora ## Interesting facts - Red mangrove forests can capture four times more carbon dioxide than rainforests, helping the planet breathe! - Some animals, like tiny barnacles, live \*inside\* the mangrove's roots, creating a secret underwater world! - The long, cigar-shaped "seeds" are actually seedlings, ready to grow as soon as they land! - Their bark is so full of a special red dye, it was once used to tan leather and color fabrics! ## Special abilities - **Floating Nurseries:** This plant has unique seeds that germinate while still attached, dropping as 'propagules' ready to float and root elsewhere. - **Prop Root Stability:** Its iconic arching prop roots anchor the tree firmly in unstable, soft muddy soils, providing strong support against tides and storms. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 200-2000 cm - **Spread:** 300-1000 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm - **Bloom Season:** Year-round, peaking spring/summer - **Edible:** No - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Wind ## Ecological connections - **Shelter:** [Gray Snapper](https://www.snappit.app/explore/gray-snapper) (*Lutjanus griseus*) — provides safe habitat for young fish - **Shelter:** [Blue Crab](https://www.snappit.app/explore/blue-crab) (*Callinectes sapidus*) — hides among roots from predators - **Eats:** Mangrove Borer (*Sphaeroma terebrans*) — bores into prop roots - **Shelter:** [Little Blue Heron](https://www.snappit.app/explore/little-blue-heron) (*Egretta caerulea*) — builds nests in 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. - [Rapid Growing](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/rapid-growing): Rapid growing plants exhibit accelerated growth rates, quickly increasing in size and biomass within a short period. - [Timber](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/timber): Timber refers to wood that has been prepared for use in building and carpentry. - [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. - [Marine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/marine): Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life. - [Threatened](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/threatened): Threatened status denotes a species likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future without effective conservation interventions. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Stay away from the water's edge near mangroves, as the roots can be slippery. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify red 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 red mangrove? 200-2000 cm ### How wide does red mangrove spread? 300-1000 cm ### How big are the flowers on red mangrove? 1-2 cm ### When does red mangrove bloom? Year-round, peaking spring/summer ### Is red mangrove edible? No ### Is red mangrove toxic? None ### What is red 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 - [Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cockroach-bay-aquatic-preserve) — US · Nature Reserve - [Edison and Ford Winter Estates](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/edison-and-ford-winter-estates) — US · Botanical Garden - [Jekyll Island Club](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/jekyll-island-club) — Georgia, US · Historic District - [Jones Family Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/jones-family-historic-district) — US · Historic District - [Marie Selby Botanical Gardens](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/marie-selby-botanical-gardens) — Florida, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see red mangrove](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/red-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: [Red Mangrove: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/red-mangrove)