Magnificent Mangroves!

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When travelling along the Florida coast, you are certain to spot mangrove trees that appear to be on stilts growing out of the water. Their "stilts" are called prop roots which not only help the trees withstand the ebb and flow of tides, but they also and stabilize the shoreline. Mangroves are not merely trees, but are havens along the coastal intertidal zones that host an array of creatures, over 200 species of fish, more than 150 species of birds, two dozen amphibian and reptile species and over a dozen species of mammals. Mangroves have been nicknamed the "kidneys of the coast" because they are wonderful filters occurring near sea grasses for corals. These trees are key in providing the foundation for estuarine communities. In 1996, the Mangrove Trimming and Preservation Act was put in place to prevent alteration and trimming of mangroves growing on public lands and restrictions for maintenance and removal of those found on private property.


"Red Mangrove" by treegrow is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Although there are over seventy classified species of Mangroves in the world, three can be found here in central Florida: Red Mangrove, Black Mangrove and White Mangrove.


Red Mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) is the most common often referred to as walking trees. This particular species has the long hanging pencil-like propagules. They have low salt tolerance and can be found in low regularly flooded areas in intertidal zones. Red Mangroves can reach from 20 to 75 feet in height. 


"File:Avicennia germinans-salt excretion.jpg" by Ulf Mehlig is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.5.

Black Mangrove (Avicennia germinans) has the highest salt tolerance of the three species, but grows further inland than the reds. Black mangroves have glands on their leaf surface that excrete salt. The leaves of the Black Mangrove have been used by indigenous peoples as a source of fuel for smoking fish. Black Mangrove tree bark has been know to be used as black dye in the tanning process for animal skins. Honey bees gather nectar from black mangrove blossoms for production of black mangrove honey. These trees can grow between 40 to 60 feet tall.



Flowers of white mangrove. Photo by Scott Zona.
White Mangrove (Laguncularia racemosa) can be located along the coast further inland where there is irregular flooding. This species has been used as a source of lumber as it produces hard strong wood and as is also used as a source of fuel for leather tanning. This species of mangroves reaches heights of 30 to 40 feet.


Mangroves can be found in various Hillsborough County Conservation Parks and Nature Preserves. Click one of the links below to learn more about each site and plan your next outing.

Apollo Beach Nature Preserve

Bahia Beach Nature Preserve

Camp Bayou Nature Preserve

Cockroach Bay Nature Preserve

Diamond Back Nature Preserve 

E.G. Simmons Conservation Park

Fred & Ida Schultz Nature Preserve

Upper Tampa Bay Conservation Park

Wolf Branch Nature Preserve


Source: UF IFAS Mangroves - University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (ufl.edu)

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