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Paddle Grass (Halophila decipiens)
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Paddle Grass (Halophila decipiens) is a small seagrass that grows in deep waters.
Courtesy: Ronald C. Phillips |
What type of habitat does paddle grass prefer?
Paddle grass grows in water that is 10 to 30 meters deep, but has been found
in deeper waters.
Where can it be found in the coastal U.S.?
Paddle grass can be found along the entire coast of Florida and into the Gulf
of Mexico. In addition, the plant is found in the West Indies and the Indo-Pacific.
What does paddle grass look like?
Paddle grass was named for its leaf shape – the leaves have are roundish
or ovate and look like a paddle. The leaves tend to be very small (1 to 2.5
centimeters long and 3 to 6 millimeters wide) and grow in pairs.
Why is it an important benthic species?
This species can occur in deep waters provided the water is clear enough to
allow sunlight to penetrate to the bottom. In the tropical U.S. waters, no
other seagrasses occur as deep as paddle grass, so it provides habitat to
fish and other marine life in deeper waters.
Did you know…?
Because paddle grass occurs in deeper waters and can occur in such small biomass,
very little is known about its distribution and extent.
Where can I find more information?
Reference
Meñez, E.G., and R.C. Phillips.1998. Seagrasses. Smithsonian Institution Press. Washington,
D.C.
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