Avicennia germinans (Black Mangrove)

Fig.: Avicennia mangroves are found in similar habitats to the well-known red mangroves and sometimes occur mixed with them.

Unlike red mangroves with their long stilt roots, mangroves of the genus Avicennia develop exclusively pneumatophores. These are breathing roots that exhibit negative gravitropic growth, eventually breaking through the water's surface again. A network of these pneumatophores extends several meters away from the tree in the subsoil mud, supplying oxygen to the deeper roots.

Similar to Rhizophora , the seeds of Avicennia also germinate on the mother plant, and practically fully developed young plants are used for dispersal (vivipary). These buoyant young plants initially resemble an oversized, flat pea. During germination, the large, fleshy cotyledons unfold, and the densely hairy radicle quickly extends to anchor itself in the soil.

Avicennia germinans (Black Mangrove) can also cope with highly saline water, but ours come from pure freshwater and are suitable for long-term use.
Pot culture in a waterlogged system is also possible.