Rhizophora mangle Linnaeus. Common name: Red Mangrove. Phenology: Jan-Dec. Habitat: Estuarine and bay shores, beaches. Distribution: Well-established from n. FL (St. Johns County on the east coast, Escambia County in the Panhandle), southward into the West Indies and beyond in tropical America (both Atlantic and Pacific coasts). The distinctive floating seedlings of Rhizophora occasionally wash up as jetsam on beaches of GA, NC, and SC, particularly following hurricanes. Dave Owen (pers. comm. and photograph) has provided photographic evidence from Bear Island, Onslow County, NC, 11 Jun 1996. These propagules (repeatedly introduced naturally) may sprout and grow for some time, forming a young sapling with leaves, but do not currently survive in or north of NC because of frost.

ID notes: A unique member of our flora in containing conspicuously tall prop roots. Other unique distinguishing characteristics of this species include viviparous fruit and salt accumulation into select leaves (this apparent as a few sacrificial yellow leaves throughout each branch).

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Taxonomy Comments: Populations of R. mangle from the Atlantic and Caribbean (including w. Africa) are genetically differentiated from populations on the west coast of the Americas and on Pacific islands (Takayama et al. 2013).

Synonymy ⓘ: = Bah, FNA12, GW2, K4, Meso4.1, Mex, S, S13, Tx, WH3; = n/a — RAB. Basionym: Rhizophora mangle L. 1753

Links to other floras: = Rhizophora mangle - FNA12

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Wetland Indicator Status:

• Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: OBL
• Great Plains: OBL

Heliophily ⓘ: 7