Shoal Grass
Halodule wrightii
Shoal grass can be found worldwide. It resembles land grass, with stiff, green, strap-shaped blades. (Photo courtesy Hans Hillewaert/Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0)
Shoal grass is a perennial submerged aquatic herb that resembles land grass and is usually found in waters up to 40 feet deep. Although it can be found around the world, it grows predominantly throughout the southern United States and South America.
Appearance
Shoal grass resembles land grass, with stiff, green, strap-shaped blades that grow up to 13 inches long. It produces egg-shaped fruits that are about two millimeters in size.
Predators
Habitat destruction and motor damage pose the biggest threats to shoal grass. Increased sunlight following die-offs of turtle grass has caused a decrease in the light-sensitive shoal grass population.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Reproduction occurs through shoot and seed production and fragmentation.
Did You Know?
- Shoal grass is known as a pioneer species, colonizing areas that are too shallow for other species to thrive in or on banks that have been damaged.
- Shoal grass forms dense meadows, creating important habitat for invertebrates and fish.
- Because shoal grass sequesters carbon, it plays a major role in counteracting ocean acidification.
Sources and Additional Information
- PLANTS Database: Shoal Grass – USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services
- Types of seagrass – Garden Guides
- Underwater Grasses in Chesapeake Bay & Mid-Atlantic Coastal Waters by Maryland Sea Grant
Quick Facts
Species
Native
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Habitat
Usually found in waters up to 40 feet deep; able to withstand prolonged exposure to low-tide conditions
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Range
Found worldwide. Distributed throughout the southern states of the U.S. and is also widely dispersed throughout South America.
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Status
Stable
