pneumatophore

Everyday

A pneumatophore is a special root of a mangrove tree that sticks up out of the mud or water like a pencil, so the tree can take in air. tree →

In the lessons

In science and geography lessons on mangrove swamps and adaptation, pneumatophores show how plants survive in salty mud with little oxygen, for example in Australia and Southeast Asia. Phrases: mangrove pneumatophores, breathing roots.

Examples

• Pneumatophores poke up from the mud like pencils. tree →
• Mangrove trees breathe through their pneumatophores. tree →
• At low tide we saw hundreds of pneumatophores. tree →
• Pneumatophores are an adaptation to wet, salty mud. tree →
• Crabs hid among the pneumatophores. tree →
• Without pneumatophores, mangrove roots could not get air in the mud. tree →

Note

Say new-MAT-oh-for; the p is silent. «Pneuma» is Greek for air or breath. Often called «breathing roots» or «aerial roots». Advanced science word.