Avicennia germinans is a salt-tolerant coastal tree native to tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, West Africa, and parts of the Indo-Pacific, thriving in intertidal zones, estuaries, and lagoons. It is a key species in mangrove ecosystems, growing up to 65 feet tall with dark, fissured bark, opposite leathery leaves that are often encrusted with salt on the upper surface, and small, tubular white flowers. Its distinctive aerial roots, called pneumatophores, rise vertically from the soil to facilitate gas exchange in waterlogged, anoxic substrates. This species plays a vital role in coastal protection by stabilizing sediments, reducing erosion, and serving as a nursery habitat for fish, crustaceans, and mollusks. Adaptations to high salinity include specialized salt-excreting glands on the leaves and a high tolerance for fluctuating water levels. The wood is dense and durable, historically used for fuel and charcoal production, while extracts from the bark have been employed in traditional medicine for their astringent properties.Photgraphed in Florida.