The complex root system of the mangroves fulfills various tasks because of the soft soil low in oxygen as well as the high salinity of water:
In the unstable and very soft soil large trees need an extensive root system in order to withstand tropical storms and high and low tides. It is so-called cable roots, growing horizontally flat bellow the surface, that play this role.
Probably because of the low oxygen content, the plants do not penetrate into the muddy soil much deeper than two metres.
Anchor roots and nutritive roots that take in nutrients grow vertically from the cable roots.
In regions with strong waves, the mangroves develop special prop roots instead of the cable roots.
A major problem of all mangroves is soil low in oxygen. The mangroves develop therefore overground roots containing special breathing cells (lenticels) that can take in the vital oxygen. These overground roots remain leafless and hang down from the branches of the mangrove trees.
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