Beccari's seagrasses (Halophila beccarii) on the Shores of Singapore

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Seagrasses > Family Hydrocharitaceae

Beccari's seagrass
Halophila beccarii
Family Hydrocharitaceae
updated Aug 10

if you learn only 3 things about them ...

Tiny leaves emerge in a rosette.

It is considered rare with a limited global distribution.

It is, however, quite common on Chek Jawa.

Where seen? This small seagrass is quite commonly encountered on Chek Jawa, usually in small patches on bare sand that are exposed at low tide near the boardwalk, with larger meadows on the shore west of House No. 1. The preliminary results of a transact survey of Chek Jawa suggest it is probably sparsely distributed in the Chek Jawa seagrass lagoon. It is also found at Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, with wide swathes alongKranji Nature Trail and Mandai mangroves.

Globally, it is considered a rare and uncommon seagrass with a distribution restricted to the Bay of Bengal and South China Sea. The first specimen of this seagrass was discovered in Sarawak by the intrepid Italian botanist-explorer, Odoardo Beccari and named after him.

Features: Beccari's seagrass is the smallest seagrass found on our shores (0.5cm long). The long oval-shaped leaves emerge in a rosette of 5-10 tiny leaves on long thin stems. Each plant may bear both male and female flowers, but usually, only male or female flowers are visible on a plant. The flowers and fruits are tiny. Each fruit contains up to 6 seeds.

On Chek Jawa, patches were seen among the byssus nests created by Nest mussels (Musculita senhausia).

Role in the habitat: Studies suggest that beds of Beccari's seagrass are an important nursery for horseshoe crabs in many regions.

Status and threats: It is listed as 'Critically Endangered' on the Red List of threatened plants of Singapore.

Lush carpets of this tiny seagrass grow
under the Sungei Buloh mangrove boardwalk.
Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Aug 09

Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Aug 09

Chek Jawa, May 09

Seen growing next to byssus nests
created by Nest mussels.

Oval leaves emerging in a rosette.

Chek Jawa, Sep 03

Patches of this tiny seagrass sometimes
grow near the Chek Jawa boardwalk.
Chek Jawa, Aug 07

Beccari's seagrass on Singapore shores

Sungei Buloh Wetland Reserve, Aug 07

Chek Jawa, Feb 02

Chek Jawa, Nov 04

Chek Jawa, Jul 02

Chek Jawa, Feb 07

Chek Jawa, Apr 08

Chek Jawa, Jun 10

Chek Jawa, Sep 10

Kranji Nature Trail, Feb 11

Mandai, Mar 11

Links

McKenzie, L.J., Yaakub, S.M., and Yoshida, R.L. (2007). Seagrass-Watch: Guidelines for TeamSeagrass Singapore Participants (PDF). Proceedings of a training workshop, National Parks Board, Biodiversity Centre, Singapore, 24th – 25th March 2007 (DPI&F, Cairns). 32pp.
Distribution of Hong Kong seagrasses on the Porcupine Homepage of the Department of Ecology & Biodiversity, The University of Hong Kong website: brief description of H. beccarii and its possible role as a nursery for horseshoe crabs.
On the wild shores of singapore blog

References

Davison, G.W. H. and P. K. L. Ng and Ho Hua Chew, 2008. The Singapore Red Data Book: Threatened plants and animals of Singapore. Nature Society (Singapore). 285 pp.
Waycott, Michelle (et. al). 2004. A Guide to Tropical Seagrasses of the Indo-West Pacific. 2004. James Cook University. 72 pp.
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.
Hsuan Keng, S.C. Chin and H. T. W. Tan.1998, The Concise Flora of Singapore II: Monoctyledons Singapore University Press. 215 pp.

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