Rhizophora

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Rhizophora
R. mangle branch with germinating seed, in Guanacaste, Costa Rica.
R. mangle branch with germinating seed, in Guanacaste, Costa Rica.
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Malpighiales
Family: Rhizophoraceae
Genus: Rhizophora

Rhizophora is a genus of tropical trees. The most notable species is the Red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) but other species are known, including Rhizophora apiculata and Rhizophora stylosa. Rhizophora species generally live in inter-tidal areas which are indundated daily by the ocean. They exhibit a number of adaptations to this environment, including stilt-roots that elevate the plants above the water and allow them to respire oxygen even while their lower roots are submerged, and a cytological molecular “pump” mechanism that allows them to remove excess salts from their cells.

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