stipulacea

Stipulacea is the species epithet that appears in the scientific name Halophila stipulacea, a seagrass in the family Hydrocharitaceae. The epithet itself is Latin for “with stipules” and is used in botanical naming to indicate a particular morphological feature, though the trait and its interpretation may vary among taxa.

Halophila stipulacea is native to warm coastal waters of the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea. It is a small, delicate seagrass that inhabits shallow, sunlit marine environments and can form dense meadows in suitable habitats. Its growth form is characterized by slender shoots and short, narrow leaves, which allows it to occupy intertidal to subtidal zones with varying water clarity and salinity.

Beyond its native range, Halophila stipulacea has been reported in areas where it is not indigenous, and in some regions it is considered invasive. In such locales, it can contribute to shifts in local seagrass communities by competing with established native species and altering ecosystem dynamics. The spread of this species is attributed to ocean currents, human-mediated transport, and natural fragmentation, which enable rapid colonization of new habitats.

Ecology and reproduction in Halophila stipulacea are driven by both vegetative propagation through rhizomes and fragments and, less frequently, sexual reproduction. The species tends to prefer warm, clear waters but can tolerate a range of salinities, making it adaptable to diverse coastal environments.

Taxonomically, stipulacea names appear in various plant and animal taxa as an epithet, reflecting Latin roots related to morphological traits. In the context of Halophila stipulacea, it refers to a characteristic historically associated with stipules in plant anatomy.