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seagrass lagoon

Ribbon seagrass Cymodocea rotundata Family Cymodoceaceae

A small patch of this ribbon-like seagrass grows in the large pool near the shore.

This seagrass has long ribbon-like leaves (2-4mm wide and 7-15cm long) and grows where it is exposed for only a short time during low spring tide. They have thick rhizomes (underground stems). At intervals along the rhizome, a short stem emerges with 2-7 long leaves.

Tiny algae often grows on the leaves of this seagrass, providing food for grazing creatures such as snails.

Rhizomes

Snails grazing on
algae on seagrass

quick facts
Each narrow ribbon-like leaf 7-15cm long, patches near the large pool near the shore.

See also ...
Seagrasses in general

Links
Cymodocea rotundata on the University of Hawai'i website: brief fact sheet with diagrams of the seagrass.

Other references

Calumpong, H. P. & Menez, E. G., 1997. Field Guide to the Common Mangroves, Seagrasses and Algae of the Philippines. Bookmark, Inc., the Philippines. 197 pp.
Hartog, C. Den. The Sea-grasses of the World, 1970. North-Holland Pub. Co., Amsterdam. 276 pp., 20 pp. of photos.
Lim, S., P. Ng, L. Tan, & W. Y. Chin, 1994. Rhythm of the Sea: The Life and Times of Labrador Beach. Division of Biology, School of Science, Nanyang Technological University & Department of Zoology, the National University of Singapore. 160 pp.

a companion website to the chek jawa guidebook website©ria tan 2003 www.wildsingapore.com

a companion website to the chek jawa guidebook
website©ria tan 2003 www.wildsingapore.com