Caribbean Seagrass (Halophila decipiens)
Description
Halophila is the only genus of seagrass that lacks basal sheaths on the leaf stems. Halophila decipiens has thin rhizomes that run along near the surface of sand or mud, with a root at each node to anchor the plant in place. The almost stemless leaves grow in pairs from the nodes with a pair of scales at their base. The leaves are paddle-shaped and have a finely serrated margin and are up to 25 millimetres (0.98 in) long and 6 millimetres (0.24 in) wide. Male and female flowers are found on the same spathe and a female flower can produce about 30 seeds. Flowering seems to be stimulated by a rise in water temperature above a certain threshold rather than day length. The plant is an annual.
Taxonomic tree
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Domain: Eukarya
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Kingdom: Plantae
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Phylum: Magnoliophyta
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Class: Liliopsida
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Order: Alismatales
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Family: Hydrocharitaceae
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Genus: Halophila
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