COASTAL ZONE
Aerial Roots found at Sungei Buloh
Aerial Roots, also known as pencil roots, Aerial roots can take on different forms. Avicennia develop shallow cable roots which spread out from the trunk. Along these cable roots emerge short pencil-like roots (left) called pneumatophores (meaning "air carrier" in Greek). A 3-metre tall Avicennia can have 10,000 pneumatophores. Sonneratia also produce pneumatophores, but these are cone-shaped instead. Aerial roots prevents the tree from drowning, also, it provides support for the tree when the tide comes in.
MIDDLE ZONE
Prop roots found in SBWR
This is the second zone closest to the sea and trees like Rhizophora are commonly found. These trees are also able to adapt to salt water known as halophytes. Prop roots supply air to the underlying roots and provide support and stability to the mangrove. They also trap mud and silt that flows with the tide, thus gradually increasing the soil around them.
INLAND ZONE
Kneed Roots found in SBWR
Found furthest away from sea, the horizontal roots growing just below the soil surface periodically grow vertically upwards then immediately loop downwards to resemble a bent knee. By repetition, a single horizontal root develops a series of knees at regular intervals.
The aerial portions (knees) of these roots help in aeration of the whole root which because it spreads so widely, improves anchorage in the unstable mud. |
