Samala
06/13/2006, 09:35 PM
Hi gang,
Interesting development from my Halodule wrightii and Halophila engelmannii dominated 20gallon display. One of the Halodule plants has decided to produced a flower!
<img border=1 height=450 width=600 src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v285/slardizabal/duleflower2.jpg">
Very exciting. It doesnt show well in these pics as it is really quite small.. I'd say 1/2" or 1 - 1.5 cm tall for the flower structure itself. It also has a slight reddish tinge to it, much like male flowers from Halophila engelmannii. I think this is a female flower, as shoal grass's female flowers are reported to be sessile and produced very close to the ground as well as being enclosed by leafy sheaths. This flower occurs maybe two inches above the soil, and the sheaths do seem to be 'enclosing' it. I dont see any filaments or anything else yet. Might ask a few seagrass biologists about it to verify which type it is.
I think water temperature, as in star grass, may have sparked this occurrence. It has been rather mild here for many weeks, despite it being summer but has just recently started to be a little warmer continuously. Might be the trigger.
We'll see what develops or if the other plants decide to follow suit. This is the second species to flower in my tanks.
>Sarah
Interesting development from my Halodule wrightii and Halophila engelmannii dominated 20gallon display. One of the Halodule plants has decided to produced a flower!
<img border=1 height=450 width=600 src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v285/slardizabal/duleflower2.jpg">
Very exciting. It doesnt show well in these pics as it is really quite small.. I'd say 1/2" or 1 - 1.5 cm tall for the flower structure itself. It also has a slight reddish tinge to it, much like male flowers from Halophila engelmannii. I think this is a female flower, as shoal grass's female flowers are reported to be sessile and produced very close to the ground as well as being enclosed by leafy sheaths. This flower occurs maybe two inches above the soil, and the sheaths do seem to be 'enclosing' it. I dont see any filaments or anything else yet. Might ask a few seagrass biologists about it to verify which type it is.
I think water temperature, as in star grass, may have sparked this occurrence. It has been rather mild here for many weeks, despite it being summer but has just recently started to be a little warmer continuously. Might be the trigger.
We'll see what develops or if the other plants decide to follow suit. This is the second species to flower in my tanks.
>Sarah