Seagrass plants have develop to grow entirely underwater . Despite their name , these plant are not unfeigned locoweed ; they are just send for that because many metal money have grass - like leaves . Seagrasses help the environs in many manner . The leaf filter water , the origin stabilise deposit , and the works supply habitat and protection for various fish , mollusc and crustacean . About 57 seagrass species have been identified .
Shoal Grass
Shoal grass ( Halodule wrightii ) is a seawater seagrass that generally prosper in the shallower , disquieted Ethel Waters of estuary , coral reefs and mangrove creeks . Shoal green goddess grow along the shorelines of North Carolina , the Gulf of Mexico , the Caribbean Islands and Africa . This seagrass has flat , starchy blade that are only about one - tenth of an in panoptic and grade in length from 1 - 1/2 to 13 inches .
Widgeon Grass
Widgeon locoweed ( Ruppia maritime ) grows in both reinvigorated and common salt water system and is normally discover in alcove , estuaries and laguna . This seagrass features branch or unmarried prow that grow up to 3 feet farseeing . The thread - like leaves grow up to 4 inches in distance and are generally very thin ( 1/32 of an inch ) . Widgeon grass has stalks that produce fruit clusters and petal - less prime . Ducks commonly feed on the leaves and stems that adhere out above the water . Fish , reptiles and amphibians eat the underwater portions . wigeon seagrass grows in subtropical and temperate clime , include along the Atlantic coastline . This seagrass often forms magnanimous meadows in sub - tidal environments that receive abundant sunlight .
Turtle Grass
Turtle grass ( Thalassia testudinum ) is a seagrass common to the Florida and Caribbean shoreline . The ribbon - like , 2-dimensional leaves attain up to 14 in in length and are about one - half inch widely . This seagrass grow in shallow H2O pasture from the low - tide point to about 30 infantry deep . Turtle grass produces dark-green - blank to pink bloom and orotund fruit . This gage earned its name because sea turtle care to eat the leaves .
Manatee Grass
Manatee supergrass ( Syringodium filiforme ) is a seagrass with cylindric leaves that get through up to a understructure long and only about a ten percent of an in all-inclusive . This seagrass prefer shallow seawater about 2 to 3 understructure bass , but can thrive in weewee up to 60 feet inscrutable . Manatee grass grow along the eastern coasts of Florida , the Gulf of Mexico , the Bahamas , Bermuda and the Caribbean . Leaves reach up to 20 inches long and is a nutrient source for Trichechus manatus .
Johnson’s Seagrass
Johnson ’s seagrass ( Halophila johnsonii ) grows in coastal lagoons with shallow waters up to 6 feet mystifying . This seawater seagrass is listed as a threatened maritime species due to its asexual reproduction and limited distribution . Johnson ’s seagrass grows along the Florida coastline . This seagrass features elliptical blade typically shorter than 1 inch long and less than one - tenth of an in wide .
Eelgrass
Eelgrass ( Zostera marina ) maturate in the cold saltwater from North Carolina compass north to Greenland . This seagrass prefer the shallow weewee of tidal brook , estuaries and true laurel . Eelgrass has round - tipped , ribbon - like blades that progress to up to 4 human foot long and about one - third of an inch encompassing . Unlike other type of seagrasses , eelgrass dies back in the summertime and thrives in the cool spring and autumn month .
