Question

Pneumatophores are found only in swampy areas. Why?

Answer 1

Hint The specialized root structures which grow out from the water surface and help in facilitating the aeration necessary for root respiration in certain hydrophytic trees.

Complete answer:
Pneumatophores are found in swampy areas only because some plants grow in swampy areas which need accessory organs to get oxygen and solve this problem by growing sponge fruits which are projected into the air and increases the oxygen exchange between the atmosphere and the roots with which the pneumatophores are connected. The pneumatophores are commonly found in the mangrove species which grows in saline mudflats and the lateral roots are grown upward out of the murder which functions as a site of oxygen for the intake and the submerged primary root system. The pneumatophores grow upwards and show negative geotropism for varying distances and functions as the site for in taking of oxygen for the submerged primary root system.

Additional information:
The trees present in swamp habitats are subjected to tidal flooding which includes mangroves that have specialized root systems called pneumatophores which are involved in gaseous exchanges. They are a type of Avicennia which produces thousands of air roots or pneumatophores that protrude from the mud around the base of the tree. The air gets sucked in through the lenticels and vertical pneumatophores where the tide falls and is forced out when the tide rises. The lenticels on the surface are connected by the air spaces two routes which are burnt in the mud and decrease which indicates that the stilt roots serve as aerating mechanism for the submerged roots.

Note: The pneumatophores enable the plant to utilize their in waterlogged soil habitats and are the aerial roots that grow above the ground and absorb water directly from the air. The lenticels in the pneumatophores make the tissue spongy and take up air into it.