Last month I wrote about the Red Mangrove.  This article will introduce you to the Black Mangrove.  Appearing in the bank area with the reds, they are widespread from coastal south Florida throughout the Caribbean.

 

The Black Mangrove is evergreen and usually the tallest of the mangroves. They have black trunks and dark green leaves.  Salt crystals make the leaves shiny. They are unable to extrude the salt and deposit it on the leaf surface.

 

The seeds resemble Lima beans about 1/2 inch long.  They are ready to germinate with roots and leaves enclosed..

 

We have Black Mangroves in Grand Harbor on the banks behind the reds. look for them on your walk-arounds.