An Angiosperm With Modified Roots, Research Paper Example

The Black Mangrove (Avicennia germinans) is an example of an Angiosperm (flowering plant). As such, it has roots, stems, leaves, and flowers; but, in the case of the Black Mangrove, its root system is modified and functions in an unusual manner. Just as the spine of the California Barrel Cactus has evolved in place of leaves in order to reduce its water loss, the Black Mangrove’s roots are not stilted and have pneumatophores, or thin growths that lift upward from its horizontal roots as an adaptation to its habitat in tropical and subtropical regions. These little “feelers” rise above the water line. Pores in the feelers allow the entire root system to breathe by taking oxygen to the underground roots.

It is not known why this plant got its name, for it is the lightest in color of all of the mangrove species (Lauri & Gibson, 2000). Its oblong leaves are larger than the leaves of other plants in its family. The underside of the leaves secrete salt (Neill, 2007). It is a large bush (or short tree) and can grow more than 5 feet and les than 20 feet tall. The bark is thick. The fruit is dark green and about an inch long. Its white or yellow flowers are quite small and bloom for about half the year from mid autumn to mid spring.

Black Mangroves are woody plants. They reside in lower courses of rivers where currents meet coastal tides. Black Mangrove communities support the breeding of many kinds of fish, birds, and other wildlife (Everitt, Yang, Sriharan, & Judd, 2009). Crustaceans love to use the pneumatophores as nursery areas. The presence of the Black Mangrove helps to prevent shoreline soil erosion. This comes in handy, especially during times of hurricane or tidal wave.

References

Everitt, J., Yang, C., Sriharan, S., & Judd, F. (2009). Using high resolution satellite imagery to map black mangrove on the Texas Gulf Coast. Journal of Coastal Research, 24(6), 1582-1586.

Lauri, B., & Gibson, J. (2000). Ocean oasis field guide: Avicennia germinans (Mangle negro). San Diego Natural History Museum. Retrieved 25 April 2010 from http://www.oceanoasis.org/fieldguide/avic-ger.html

Neill, R. (2007). Black Mangrove plant guide. United States Department of Agriculture. Natural Resources Conservation Service. Retrieved 25 April 2010 from http://plants.usda.gov/plantguide/pdf/pg_avge.pdf