Mangroves live in shifting environments where tides and floods constantly move the mud in which they live, destabilising the trees. To counter this problem mangroves have developed extensive root systems to keep them firmly rooted in the mud. Some species such as Rhizophora use prop or stilt roots coming out of their trunks to provide additional stability.
The mud also creates another unique problem for mangrove roots: lack of air. Mangroves live in gooey sediments that are anoxic - pretty nasty stuff. As oxygen from the leaves cannot be quickly transported down into the roots, 'peg roots' or pneumatophores (Greek: pneuma = 'air' or 'breath': phoros = 'bearer of') are poked up through the surface of the mud. These snorkels absorb oxygen from the air and water and transfer it directly into the roots that stay close to the surface. You can trace the root systems of mangroves by following the lines of pneumatophores sticking out of the mud.
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