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Wetland trees are adapted to the particular environmental conditions of the habitat. Some, like Alders, Alder-Buckthorn and the Elder all have "air holes" (lenticelles) to allow contact with air down as far as their roots, which are always submerged in water. Others, like the Bald Cypress, develop aerial roots (pneumatophores) so that they can absorb air directly from the atmosphere. In all cases, wetlands trees have to root firmly in soils which are often muddy and crumbly. For this reason they often develop buttresses from their trunks for greater stability (like the English Oak in the photograph) which help increase their adherence to the soil.

Picture Bald Cypress