Mangroves: Family Rhizophoraceae

The Mangrove Family

The members of this family are commonly thought of as the mangroves. There are about 120 species distributed into 16 genera.  Most of them are native to the Old World.  One of the most common species, the Red Mangrove, is native to the new world and forms the thickest stands at the waters edge.

Classification

The following genera are found in the family Rhizophoraceae

• Anopyxis
• Blepharistemma
• Bruguiera
• Carallia
• Cassipourea
• Ceriops
• Comiphyton
• Crossostylis
• Dactylopetalum
• Gynotroches
• Kandelia
• Macarisia
• Paradrypetes
• Pellacalyx
• Rhizophora (Including the Red Mangrove)
  
• Sterigmapetalum

Mangrove Facts

• Mangroves can survive in water ten times saltier than would kill most other plants.
• Mangroves are tropical plants that are adapted to loose, wet soils, salt water, and being submerged by the tides.
• Mangrove forests once covered 3/4 of the coastlines of tropical and subtropical countries.
• Mangrove plants don't need saltwater to survive.  In fact, they do just fine in freshwater.  They just have a higher tolerance than most species in salty water.