Reproductive Strategies of Mangroves

Mangroves have one of the most unique reproductive strategies in the plant world. Mangroves are viviparous (bringing forth live young), just like most mammals. Rather than producing dormant resting seeds like most flowering plants, mangroves disperse propagules via water with varying degrees of vivipary or embryonic development while the propagule is attached to the parent tree.

The red mangrove flowers mostly during the summer months. The long cigar shaped propagules are often found hanging on the tree all year long. The black mangrove flowers all summer long with the lima bean shaped propagules produced during late summer and early fall. The white mangrove flowers mid to late summer with small green pea shaped propagules produced a month later.

Once the propagule drops from the parent tree there is an obligate dispersal period which each species’ propagule must remain in the water. During this period embryonic development continues. For the red mangrove this dispersal period is the longest at 40 days. The black mangrove’s propagule must drift for at least 14 days. The white mangrove’s dispersal period is the shortest at 5 days, which also includes germination.

If the propagule strands in a “favorable” area, there is an obligate stranding period before the primary roots and cotyledons (primary leaves) emerge. The red mangrove has the longest obligatory stranding period of 15 days. However, the propagule may be lying horizontally on the sediment or vertically “standing up” and may be covered by water during this time.

SUMMARIZATION
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Rhizophora mangle
red mangrove
Avicennia germinans
black mangrove
Laguncularia recemosa
white mangrove
Flowering Season
all year, but maximum in late spring and summer
spring and early summer
spring and early summer
Shape of Propagule
cigar, alrge green bean
oblong/elliptical, lima bean
flattened, pea green when fall, sunflower seed
Length of Propagule
15 cm
2 - 3 cm
less than .5 cm
Degree of Vivipary
extensive while on tree
intermediate?
"semi-viviparious"
germination during dispersal
Obligate Dispersal
40 days
14 days
8 days
Root Establishment
15 days (either vertical or horizontal)
7 days
5 days
Viable Longevity
365 days
110 days
35 days
Seedling Mortality
lowest
intermediate
highest
Sucession
due to emgbryonic reserves, can establish under canopy and wait for tree to fall
need adequate light; need strand period of 5 days above tide
need adequate light; need strand period of 5 days above tide to hold soil


red mangrove flowers

red mangrove propagule

black mangrove flowers

black mangrove propagule

white mangrove flowers

white mangrove propagule


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