Adaptations of Mangorve Rainforest

Leaves

1. Salt secreting leaves

2. Species that absorb salt

Salt screeting leaves

Create excess salt on the underside of the leaves. Salt crystals are left behind on the leaf surface when salt solution evaporates. The salt crystals are eventually removed by rain or wind

Type of roots

Salt excluding species. Have special roots to prevent salt from entering

Function of roots

1.Grow partially above soil surface

2. Anchor Mangorve plant to soft soil

Why do they grow partially?

Enables oxygen to be taken directly from air when exposed to low tides which helps them survive in oxygen poor soil.

Why do they anchor the mangrove plant to soft soil

To prevent them from being uprooted and washed away by strong waves

Different types of roots

1. Pencil like roots

2. Cone roots

3. Prop, stilt roots

4. Knee bend roots

Pencil like roots ( Avicennia species ) found in coastal

Grow vertically upwards from main root which can be found just below the soil surface. It can grow up to 20 cm tall

Come roots

Thicker than Pencil like roots and has a conical appearance

Prop stilt roots (Sonneratia) Middle

Form a chowder base around the tree to protect it from being washed away by strong waves

Knew bend roots ( Rhizophora species) Inland

Bend upwards to emerge above soil surface before bending downwards into the soil at regular intervals