Roots
Pneumatophores
Pneumatophores are vertical roots that develop on woody plants as an adaptation to
swampy or waterlogged environments. Pneumatophore means “breath carrier”.
Mangrove (Avicennia)
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Roots
Pneumatophores
Pneumatophores often develop from shallow
growing horizontal roots (called cable roots)
radiating outwards from the main trunk as
seen in some mangrove species.
Avicennia
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Roots
Pneumatophores
The pneumatophores rise above
the water line and have lenticels
or breaks in the outer bark that
allows air to pass down to the
submerged root system.
Lenticel
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Pneumatophores
Bald cypress (Taxodium) knees are produced
on trees grown under wet conditions and
resemble pneumatophores. However, there
is no evidence that they function in root
aeration. They probably are produced to
stabilize trees growing in wet soils.
Knees
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