Halophila decipiens

This  rarely seen species of dwarf sea grass features small, oval shaped leaves, with a distinct white vein down the middle with 6-8 cross veins per blade. Individual plants grow to just 1" wide by about 3" tall. It grows attached to a single rhizome in 4-6" of sediment. It grows in calm protected water, where it forms dense meadows in substrate rich in organic matter. It's typically found at shallow depths, but I have encountered it on dives as deep as 100' in West Palm Beach. The species has a fairly shallow root system which makes it ideal for the aquarium. Because of it's endangered status in Florida it's rarely offered for sale anymore. All sea grass species are protected from harvest in Florida waters except by special permit. Uprooted plants can be collected from the shoreline however this species is not as abundant as it was 20 yrs ago. It's only native to a select area in the state of Florida, mostly the Indian River Lagoon but occasionally it's found deep offshore.

Scientific Name: Halophila decipiens

Common Name: Oar Grass

Origin: Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic, Caribbean, S.Pacific

Depth Collected: 10-100 Feet

Maximum Height : 4"

Growth Rate: Slow

Light: Moderate

Temperature: 72-86

Propagation: Rhizomes, Seeds

Difficulty: Moderate

Food Value: Not Palatable 

Nutrient Uptake: Good once established

Flow Rate: Moderate to High

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