Halophila engelmannii
{{Short description|Species of plant in the family Hydrocharitaceae}}
{{speciesbox
|genus = Halophila
|image=H. engelmannii picture.jpg
|species = engelmannii
|authority = Asch., 1875 {{cite WoRMS |author=Guiry, M. D. |year=2010 |title=Halophila engelmannii Ascherson, 1875 |id=374722 |accessdate=2012-01-28 |db=}}
}}
Halophila engelmannii is a species of seagrass in the Hydrocharitaceae family.{{cite web|url= https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:431749-1|title= Halophila engelmannii Asch.|author=|date=n.d.|website=Plants of the World Online|publisher=The Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew|access-date= September 26, 2020}} It is referred to by the common names star grass and Engelmann's seagrass and grows underwater on shallow sandy or muddy sea floors. It is native to the Bahamas, the Cayman Islands, Costa Rica, Cuba, the Gulf Coast of the United States, the Gulf Coast of Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Trinidad and Tobago.
Description
Image:Aquatic and wetland plants of southwestern United States (Page 168) BHL3346632.jpg
Halophila is the only genus of seagrass lacking basal sheaths on the leaf stems. Like other seagrasses, Halophila engelmannii has rhizomes that run along near the surface of sand or mud, with roots at the nodes to anchor them in place. Each leaf stem grows from a node and has a pair of scales halfway up and another pair at the base of the leaf blades. There are 4 to 8 blades on each stem, each of which is up to {{convert|30|mm}} long and {{convert|6|mm}} wide. Each blade is oval, has 6 to 8 veins and a finely serrated margin.[http://myfwc.com/research/habitat/seagrasses/information/gallery/halophila-engelmannii-star-grass/ Halophila engelmannii star grass] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150912101530/http://myfwc.com/research/habitat/seagrasses/information/gallery/halophila-engelmannii-star-grass/ |date=2015-09-12 }} Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Retrieved 2012-01-28.
Distribution
Halophila engelmannii is found on the coasts of Florida, Texas, the Bahamas, Cuba and the West Indies. It can grow in deeper waters than do some other species of seagrass, at depths down to {{convert|14.4|m}}. It is one of three species of Halophila found in the Indian River Lagoon, Florida, the others being Halophila decipiens and Halophila ovalis in the form of Johnson's seagrass. They often form mixed seagrass meadows at greater depths than other seagrasses normally grow.[http://www.sms.si.edu/irlspec/halop_engelm.htm Halophila engelmannii (Star grass)] Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce. Retrieved 2012-01-28.
Biology
Flowering occurs in the early summer when the water temperature reaches at least 22 °C. Fragments of the plant that become detached are able to grow into new plants. The seagrass meadow acts as habitat and food source for many invertebrates and fish. In the Indian River Lagoon, animals that feed on Halophila engelmannii include sea turtles, sea urchins, parrotfish, surgeonfish and possibly pinfish. The sea slug Elysia serca preferentially feeds on it by sucking sap.[http://www.sms.si.edu/irlspec/Elysia_serca.htm Elysia serca] Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce. Retrieved 2012-01-28.
References
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Category:Flora of the Cayman Islands
Category:Flora of the United States
Category:Flora of Trinidad and Tobago