Turtlegrass

Description

Thalassia testudinum is a perennial grass growing from a long, jointed rhizome that may be buried 25 centimetres (9.8 in) deep in the substrate but is more usually found 5 to 10 cm (2 to 4 in) below the surface. Some nodes are leafless but others bear a tuft of several erect, linear leaf blades. These are up to 30 centimetres (12 in) long and 2 cm (0.8 in) wide and have rounded tips. The flowers grow on short stalks in the axils of the leaves and are greenish-white, sometimes tinged pink, and are followed by seed pods.