The flat fellas stopped in at the Library and dropped off a copy of Flat Stanley’s original book along with an explanation of the Flat Stanley project, and Flat Hal’s url FlatHal.xyz so they can catch up online… and start following along on the adventures.
These two guys have traveled a long distance together. They’ve been on a plane, busses, and a cruise ship, and have been having fun keeping track of their adventures in this journal. We thought other kids might like a chance to get in on the fun.
If you could introduce Flat Stanley to a school or library somewhere, where would you send him?
This little island is a small community, surrounded by mangrove trees… or so it appears to our cameras.
Mangrove trees are kind of magical as they can handle some salt in the water! Almost all the trees where Flat Hal lives die when exposed to salt so we were fascinated… can you see some of their roots above the water?
Do you know about mangrove trees?
When I asked AI how many trees can live in brackish or sea water, it told me:
That’s a great question that gets at the heart of how special mangroves are!
While many trees can tolerate some salt spray, very few can thrive in brackish water (a mix of fresh and saltwater) or seawater. Mangroves are truly unique in their ability to handle these conditions.
Here’s why they’re so special:
Salt exclusion: Some mangroves have specialized root systems that filter out much of the salt before it enters the tree.
Salt excretion: Others have glands on their leaves that excrete excess salt.
Salt tolerance: Even with these adaptations, mangroves still accumulate some salt, but they have mechanisms to tolerate it within their cells.
Beyond mangroves, there are very few trees that can grow in brackish or seawater. Some examples include:
Palm trees: Certain palm species, like the Coconut Palm, can tolerate salty conditions, which is why you often see them on beaches.
Casuarina: These trees are also somewhat salt-tolerant and can be found in coastal areas.
However, these trees don’t truly thrive in seawater the way mangroves do. Mangroves are the dominant tree species in these environments because they’ve evolved these unique adaptations to survive and flourish where other trees cannot.
It’s important to note that even mangroves have their limits.
Different mangrove species have varying levels of salt tolerance, and too much salt can still be harmful.
With that as our starting point to learn from, is there somewhere near you Mangrove trees might grow?
Or be useful or helpful?
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