Turtle Grasses [Hydrocharitales]

Description

Hydrocharitales, another order of seagrasses, includes species commonly referred to as turtle grasses, belonging primarily to the family Hydrocharitaceae. These plants are found in marine, freshwater, and brackish environments, but the marine representatives like Thalassia testudinum play a significant role in tropical and subtropical seagrass beds. Turtle grasses are important for their dense meadows which serve as critical habitats for a wide range of marine organisms, offering food and shelter. These seagrasses have broader, strap-like leaves compared to those in Zosterales and are known for their extensive rhizome systems that help stabilize the seabed.

Families

Taxonomy