Flowering, fruiting and seedling of annual Halophila beccarii Aschers in peninsular Malaysia

A survey of Halophila beccarii Aschers. from mid 1997 to early 1999 in a coastal lagoon of Pengkalan Nangka, Kelantan showed that flowering and fruiting were seasonal. Flowers and fruits were abundant from June to August 1997 and 1998. Their abundance decreased during September 1997 and 1998. This was followed by an absence of living plants for two to three consecutive months, in November 1997 to January 1998 and October 1998 to November 1998. The meadow showed recovery from seed germination observed in February 1998 and December 1998. Seedlings were abundant from February to April 1998 and December 1998 to January 1999. Early development of H. beccarii seedlings up to the protrusion of a third leaf of the pioneer shoot was essentially similar as those described for seedlings of H. spinulosa, H. engelmannii, H. decipiens, H. ovalis and H. tricostata. The morphology of progressive development of H. beccarii seedlings to juvenile or young plant, an observation that has not been described for Halophila to date, is presented. The presence of viable seeds and seedlings in the meadow demonstrated the successful pollination and sexual reproduction in H. beccarii in this meadow. Seed production through sexual reproduction is of major importance not only in propagating the species but also for the establishment of new seagrass areas at Pengkalan Nangka, Kelantan.