Marine Plants and Algae

Green algae

division Chlorophyta

Red algae

division Rhodophyta

Brown algae

division Phaeophyta

Red calcareous algae

photosynthetic, deposits CaCO3, cements substrate together

Red mangrove

Rhizophora mangle, salt excluder, prop roots, shiny large leaves, viviparous, most seaward species

Black mangrove

Avicennia germinans, salt excreter, pneumatophores, dull leaves with surface glands for salt excretion, ‘comma’ shaped fruit, mid zone (seaward wise)

White mangrove

Laguncularia racemosa, salt excreter, sometimes pneumatophores, dull oval leaves, paired salt glands, small ridged fruit

Buttonwood

Conocarpus erectus, salt excreter, shiny, alternate leaves with salt glands below on midvein, “button”-like fruit, most upland, no special oxygen adaptations

Beach morning glory

Ipomea pescaprae, colonizes sand by runners, beach stabilization