Biological Interest

Seagrass is the only flowering plant surviving when wholly submerged in coastal marine and estuarine waters.

It possesses erect leaves and shoots but creeping stems or rhizomes. Its flowers are pollinated under water and develop into fruits and seeds.

There are five seagrass species in Hong Kong. They are Halophila beccarii, H. ovalis, H. minor, Ruppia maritima and Zostera japonica.

It was found that the life cycle of Zostera japonica showed a distinct seasonality. Both abiotic and biotic factors were also found to influence the growth of the seagrass species.

Seagrass is important to coastal/marine ecosystem. It helps to stabilize the coastlines and sediments, and serve as shelters, feeding grounds and food sources for a variety of animals such as fishes, crabs, gastropods, horseshoe crabs and turtles.