They are identified by the root projections (pneumatophores) that stick up out of the mud in the shade of the trees and look like asparagus.
Mangrove trees have in common, tolerance to conditions of high soil salinity, tolerance to submergence in water or waterlogged soil, and to low oxygen conditions. Mangrove trees reproduce by means of specialised seeds called "seedlings" and the all use water to disperse their young plants.
Mangrove trees play an important part in maintaining the health of both the terrestrial and aquatic environments. The foliage of the trees provide shelter for many animals including monkeys and birds. The roots of the trees are nurseries for shrimp, clams, crayfish. Red and white mangroves are also used for tanning leather.
Mangrove swamps are found in Barbados at Graeme Hall in Christ Church, in Holetown in St James and various other west coast sites.
GRAEME HALL SWAMP.
History.
The Graeme Hall Swamp was once part of a 373 acre plantation which was partially owned by the Kirton family in the 1600's. In 1661, Owen Graeme left his portion of the estate to Evan Graeme. In 1715, George Graeme sold land to James Elliott. In 1722 George Graeme and Philip Kirton sold and resold the same parcel of land. George Graeme eventually bought the Elliott portion of the land which then passed to his son Alexander. The land was redistributed by the Court on the death of Alexander and his wife Margaret.
After a series of changes in ownership of the land at Graeme Hall Swamp, the entire site of 289 acres, was sold to the Government of Barbados in the 1960's. Until the early 1970's the Agricultural Development Corporation was responsible for the land. The land was eventually sectioned and distributed to various ministries of the government. The section owned by Graeme Hall Gun Club was sold to the South Coast Development Limited in 1969. The Government of Barbados still retains ownership of the eastern section of the Graeme Hall Swamp to date.
