what does a mangrove tree look like?

Answer 1

What, you too lazy to do an image search?

Answer 2

A mangrove tree is somewhat short growing generally to only about 10 meters or so. The trees grow along salt water shores. The roots of mangrove trees are adventitious and produced from the stem so the roots of the tree are visible above the soil surface. Mangrove trees also produce upward seeking roots that penetrate the surface of water in order to obtain oxygen for respiration in the plant. Mangroves are flowering plants and after fertilization the plant embryo germinates and grows into a sapling still attached to the tree before it is eventually dropped after it reaches a size large enough to survive the harsh salt water environment below.

Answer 3

MANGROVE -- Etymology: probably from Portuguese mangue mangrove (from Spanish mangle) + English grove
1 : any of a genus (Rhizophora, especially R. mangle of the family Rhizophoraceae) of tropical maritime trees or shrubs that send out many prop roots and form dense masses important in coastal land building and as foundations of unique ecosystems
2 : any of numerous trees (as of the genera Avicennia of the vervain family or Sonneratia of the family Sonneratiaceae) with growth habits like those of the true mangroves.
[from the online Webster -- 1st link]
So, the original "true" mangrove is Rhizophora mangle (see 2nd & 3rd links) but the name is now applied to other small trees that live in salty water.

Answer 4

http://www.mangrove.de/mangrove/images/mangrove.jpg