Turtlegrass

Scientific Name: Thalassia testudinum

Number of Blades/Leaves: Available in 10 or 8 blades

Blade/Leaf Width: 0.39" (10mm)           

Distribution: Thalassia testudinum is found growing in meadows in calm shallow waters throughout the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico and as far north as Cape Canaveral in Florida.

Description: Thalassia testudinum, or turtlegrass is a perennial grass growing from a long, jointed rhizome that may be buried 25 centimeters (9.8in) deep in the substrate but is more usually found 5 to 10cm (2 to 4in) below the surface. Some nodes are leafless but others bear a tuft of several erect, linear leaf blades. These are up to 30 centimeters (12in) long and 2cm (0.8in) 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.