Needleleaf Halodule

Halodule pinifolia is a seagrass species in the genus Halodule. It is found in shallow sea waters.

Distribution and habitat

This is a common seagrass in Asian tropical coasts. Halodule pinifolia forms homogenous patches in intertidal places or occasionally intermixed with other seagrasses (Skelton and South 2006). Halodule pinifolia grows in sandy or muddy sand substrates from upper littoral to subtidal areas. It is ephemeral with rapid turn-over and high seed set, and is well adapted to high levels of disturbance. This species is can grow rapidly and is a fast coloniser. Often heavily epiphytised. ^[2]

Description

• Fine, delicate leaves up to 20 cm long
• 1 central vein
• Black central vein splits into two at the rounded leaf tip
• Usually pale rhizome, with clean black leaf scars
• Found on inter tidal sand banks

Ecology

This species is known to be hybridized to Halodule uninervis in Okinawa, Japan.^[1]

References