Coconut palms on remote islands.
 

These can be observed growing close to the sea shore.

Why doesn't the salt effect their growth, and where do they get fresh
water if many of these islands are just sand and coral?

Coconut palms on remote islands.
 

On May 12, 6:15*pm, Peter Jason wrote:

Why doesn't the salt effect their growth, and where do they get fresh
water if many of these islands are just sand and coral?

Many shore-dwelling plants are acclimated to tolerate salt spray. In
fact there is one mangrove species in Indonesia and nearby countries,
Pemphis acidula, that is widely collected for bonsai. When in
cultivation, this tree must be sprayed daily with salt water in order
to survive. Urban growers buy sea salt from the aquarium store for
this purpose.
Obviously these trees have a source of fresh water. The larger islands
undoubtedly have fresh water supplies underground. Otherwise the trees
obtain it from rain.
Iris

Coconut palms on remote islands.
 

On Fri, 3 Jun 2011 18:29:23 -0700 (PDT), csd
wrote:

On May 12, 6:15*pm, Peter Jason wrote:

Why doesn't the salt effect their growth, and where do they get fresh
water if many of these islands are just sand and coral?

Many shore-dwelling plants are acclimated to tolerate salt spray. In
fact there is one mangrove species in Indonesia and nearby countries,
Pemphis acidula, that is widely collected for bonsai. When in
cultivation, this tree must be sprayed daily with salt water in order
to survive. Urban growers buy sea salt from the aquarium store for
this purpose.
Obviously these trees have a source of fresh water. The larger islands
undoubtedly have fresh water supplies underground. Otherwise the trees
obtain it from rain.
Iris


I thought they might have some sort of "reverse osmosis" mechanism in
their makeup to take in seawater at 4% salt, remove some fresh water,
and then excrete a more concentrated salt solution.

Coconut palms on remote islands.
 

I thought they might have some sort of "reverse osmosis" mechanism in
their makeup to take in seawater at 4% salt, remove some fresh water,
and then excrete a more concentrated salt solution.

There are trees that do something like that, notably tamarisks. They
grow near brackish or alkaline water sources, and take up the salty
water through their roots. They excrete the excess salt in the form of
salt crystals, which are found all over their branches. The water that
they transpire Is fresh. Due to the humid transpiration, people find
it very refreshing to sit under a tamarisk tree in the desert. That is
why Abraham planted one in Beersheba.
Iris