HALOPHILA ENGELMANNII

Halophila Engelmannii, more commonly know as Star Grass, is an interesting sea grass that is tolerant of cooler water temperatures. It is found growing in the waters of Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. It features a tall upright that forms a cluster of 4-6 elongated leaves, resembling the algae C. Paspaloides. Single plants grow to about 4-6" tall. The root system spreads by lateral growth of the rhizomes at their ends and is the most common form of reproduction. Flowering is more productive in this species and it spreads throughout the ocean by the production of seeds. Sand beds that are rich in organic material are best suited for most sea grasses, but plants can be fertilized by inorganic means such as dry and liquid plant food. Overall, Star Grass is very hardy, requires only a sand bed of about 4", and can be kept successfully with moderate to low lighting. It is rarely offered to hobbyists, but occasionally shows up in the aquarium industry when specimens can be collected.

Scientific Name: Halophila Engelmannii

Common Name: Star Grass

Origin: Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic, Caribbean

Depth Collected: 4-200 Feet

Maximum Height : 6"

Growth Rate: Slow

Light: Moderate

Temperature: 68-82 Degrees

Propagation: Rhizomes, Seeds

Difficulty: Moderate

Food Value: Not Palatable

Nutrient Uptake: Good once established

Flow Rate: Low to Moderate

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