Halophila engelmannii, more commonly know as Star Grass, is an interesting sea grass that is tolerant of cooler water temperatures. It is found growing in the waters of Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. It features a tall upright that forms a cluster of 4-6 elongated leaves, resembling the algae Caulerpa paspaloides. Single plants grow to about 4-6″ tall. The root system spreads by lateral growth of the rhizomes at their ends and is the most common form of reproduction. Flowering is more productive in this species and it spreads throughout the ocean by the production of seeds. Sand beds that are rich in organic material are best suited for most sea grasses, but plants can be fertilized by inorganic means such as dry and liquid plant food. Overall, Star Grass is very hardy, requires only a sand bed of about 4″, and can be kept successfully with moderate to low lighting. It is rarely offered to hobbyists, but occasionally shows up in the aquarium industry when specimens can be collected.
Scientific Name: Halophila engelmannii
Common Name: Star Grass
Origin: Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic, Caribbean
Depth Collected: 4-100 Feet
Maximum Height : 6″
Growth Rate: Slow
Light: Moderate
Temperature: 68-82 Degrees
Propagation: Rhizomes, Seeds
Difficulty: Moderate
Food Value: Not Palatable
Nutrient Uptake: Good once established
Flow Rate: Low to Moderate