Photo by Karla McDermid

Paddle grass is a small seagrass that has hairy, green, paddle-shaped leaves with serrated edges. The individual leaves are all connected by underground stems and its flowers and fruits sit at the base of the leaf stalks. Paddle grass grows deeper than all other seagrass in US waters and therefore provides habitat and food to some deeper water species. A worldwide tropical species, Paddle Grass grows subtidally at depths from 3 feet to 120 feet.

Paddle Grass
(Halophila decipiens)

	Circumtropical; mostly found near Midway, Oahu and the Big Island regionally
	Calm sand flats
	Photosynthesis
The status of this species is representative of the populations within the waters of this Sanctuary only, not global populations.
	Paddle grass can occur in small patches or dense meadows.
	- Marine Algae of Hawai`i - NOAA Coastal Services Center