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Botanical Spotlight: Black Mangrove – June

Found in coastal mangrove forests of the American tropics and subtropics and western tropical Africa, the Black Mangrove is known for protecting the coastline from erosion and providing habitat for a variety of sea life and shorebirds.
Nicknamed black mangrove because of the darkness of its bark, it produces a white four-petaled flower in spring and summer. Two unique features are its ability to live in saltwater by excreting salt onto its leaves and specialized roots called pneumatophores, that act like snorkels channeling oxygen to the roots during high tide.
Look for Avicennia germinans protecting our shoreline at both the Historic Spanish Point and Downtown Sarasota campuses.

About Black Mangroves (Avicennia germinans)

  • Mangroves are protected by State of Florida statutes
  • Considered a shrub or mediumsized tree
  • Flattened green teardrop shaped seeds germinate on the tree
Black Mangrove Avicennia germinans