Seagrass - Definition and Overview

Seagrass (or sea-grass in British English) is a term that refers to flowering plants from two plant families (Potamogetonaceae and Hydrocharitacea) that grow in the marine environment. They are called seagrasses only because most species superficially resemble terrestrial grasses of the Family Poaceae. Because these plants must photosynthesize, they are limited to growing in the photic zone, and most occur in shallow, tropical, coastal waters characterized by sand or mud bottom.

Herbivores that consume seagrass include dugong, some juvenile fish, and crabs. Some fishes lay eggs on the blades.

Genera of sea grasses:

• Family Potamogetonaceae
  • Amphibolis
  • Cymodocea
  • Halodule
  • Heterozostera
  • Phyllospadix
  • Posidonia
  • Syringodium
  • Zostera
    • Zostera marina - Eelgrass
  • Thalassodendron

• Family Hydrocharitaceae
  • Enhalus
  • Halophila
  • Thalassia

See also

• Alismatales

References

• den Hartog, C. 1970. The Sea-grasses of the World. Verhandl. der Koninklijke Nederlandse Akademie van Wetenschappen, Afd. Natuurkunde, No. 59(1).