Mangroves, Avicennia marina, occur at intervals along the coastline of the Red Sea. Further south a second species, Rhizophora mucronata, occurs in smaller numbers. The most northerly stand of Avicennia marina is at El Gouna in the Eastern Desert and at Nabq in Sinai. More extensive stands with larger trees are found further south.
The mangrove tree is uniquely suited to the severe, saline, oxygen-depleted habitat in which it grows and has evolved strategies to cope, such as the erect, stem-like growths called pneumathodia that arise from the roots and are thought to provide oxygen for them. The seeds germinate on the plant and send out embryonic roots, thus avoiding the necessity of germinating in extremely saline soil and gaining oxygen at the most important time of germination. A third adaptation is the plant’s ability to absorb saline water and excrete the salt on the leaves, which become covered with salt crystals.
The mangroves are vital components of the coastal ecosystem and contribute significantly to the health of the environment as well as providing spawning grounds and havens for many commercially important species of fish and crustaceans.They also serve as nesting habitat for numerous birds like Herons and Spoonbills.