Where can pneumatophores be seen?

Pneumatophores are a special type of roots that are found in mangrove trees, which grow in swampy, coastal, and waterlogged areas. These are commonly seen in delta regions and coastal marshes where the soil is saline, muddy, and oxygen-deficient.

Explanation:

Pneumatophores are known as “respiratory roots” because they help the plant in breathing. Since mangrove trees grow in waterlogged conditions where the oxygen availability in soil is very low, their roots grow upwards, above the surface of the water or soil, to absorb oxygen directly from the atmosphere.

These roots have tiny pores called lenticels on their surface which allow the exchange of gases. Pneumatophores play a crucial role in the survival of mangrove trees in such difficult environments.

Common Examples of Areas with Pneumatophores:

• Sundarbans Mangrove Forest (West Bengal, India and Bangladesh)
• Pichavaram Mangrove Forest (Tamil Nadu, India)
• Andaman and Nicobar Islands
• Bhitarakanika Mangroves (Odisha, India)