Taxon: Thalassia testudinum K. D. Koenig

Summary

Genus:

Thalassia

Family:

Hydrocharitaceae

Subfamily:

Hydrilloideae

Nomen number:

458468

Place of publication:

Ann. Bot. (König & Sims) 2:96. 1805

Protologue link:

https://hdl.handle.net/2027/chi.102705932?urlappend=%3Bseq=114%3Bownerid=13510798902157213-104

Verified:

01/29/2009 ARS Systematic Botanists.

Accessions:

0 (0 active, 0 available) in National Plant Germplasm System.

Other conspecific taxa

Autonyms (not in current use), synonyms and invalid designations

No images

Conservation Status

Reference(s)

Acevedo-Rodríguez, P. & M. T. Strong. 2005. Monocotyledons and gymnosperms of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 52:70-71. Note: lists as Thalassia testudinum Banks & Sol. ex K. D. Koenig
Acevedo-Rodríguez, P. et al. 1996. Flora of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 78:1-581. Note: lists as Thalassia testudinum Banks & Sol. ex J. Koenig
Adams, C. 1972. Flowering plants of Jamaica
Balick, M. J. et al. 2000. Checklist of the vascular plants of Belize, with common names and uses. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 85
Correll, D. S. & H. B. Correll. 1982. Flora of the Bahama archipelago. Note: lists as Thalassia testudinum Banks & Sol. ex K. D. Koenig
Davidse, G. et al., eds. 1994. Flora mesoamericana. Note: lists as Thalassia testudinum Banks & Sol. ex K. D. Koenig
FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America. Note: lists as Thalassia testudinum Banks ex K. D. Koenig
Hammel, B. E. et al., eds. 2003-. Manual de plantas de Costa Rica
Howard, R. 1974-1989. Flora of the lesser Antilles. Note: lists as Thalassia testudinum Banks & Sol. ex K. D. Koenig
León (J. S. Sauget) & Alain (E. E. Liogier). 1946-1969. Flora de Cuba
Moscoso, R. M. 1943. Catalogus florae domingensis.
Proctor, G. R. 1984. Flora of the Cayman Islands. Kew Bulletin Additional Series XI. Note: lists as Thalassia testudinum K. D. Koenig ex K. D. Koenig & Simms
Standley, P. C. & J. A. Steyermark. 1946-1976. Flora of Guatemala.
Stevens, W. D. et al., eds. 2001. Flora de Nicaragua. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 85(1-3). Note: lists as Thalassia testudinum Banks & Sol. ex K. D. Koenig

Common names

Language	Name	Alternate name	note	seq	Citation
English	turtle-grass			1	Acevedo-Rodríguez, P. et al. 1996. Flora of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 78:1-581. Note: lists as Thalassia testudinum Banks & Sol. ex J. Koenig

Distribution

order_code	Status	Continent	Subcontinent	Country	State	Note	Reference
1	Native	Northern America	South-Central U.S.A.	United States	Texas	s.e. coast	FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America. Note: lists as Thalassia testudinum Banks ex K. D. Koenig
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Florida	coasts	FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America. Note: lists as Thalassia testudinum Banks ex K. D. Koenig
1	Native	Northern America	Southeastern U.S.A.	United States	Louisiana	s. coast	FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America. Note: lists as Thalassia testudinum Banks ex K. D. Koenig
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Campeche	coasts	Davidse, G. et al., eds. 1994. Flora mesoamericana. Note: lists as Thalassia testudinum Banks & Sol. ex K. D. Koenig
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Quintana Roo	coasts	Davidse, G. et al., eds. 1994. Flora mesoamericana. Note: lists as Thalassia testudinum Banks & Sol. ex K. D. Koenig
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave	coasts
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Yucatán	coasts	Davidse, G. et al., eds. 1994. Flora mesoamericana. Note: lists as Thalassia testudinum Banks & Sol. ex K. D. Koenig
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Antigua and Barbuda		coasts	Howard, R. 1974-1989. Flora of the lesser Antilles. Note: lists as Thalassia testudinum Banks & Sol. ex K. D. Koenig
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Bahamas		coasts	Correll, D. S. & H. B. Correll. 1982. Flora of the Bahama archipelago. Note: lists as Thalassia testudinum Banks & Sol. ex K. D. Koenig
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Barbados		coasts	Howard, R. 1974-1989. Flora of the lesser Antilles. Note: lists as Thalassia testudinum Banks & Sol. ex K. D. Koenig
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Bermuda		coasts
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Cayman Islands		coasts	Proctor, G. R. 1984. Flora of the Cayman Islands. Kew Bulletin Additional Series XI. Note: lists as Thalassia testudinum K. D. Koenig ex K. D. Koenig & Simms
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Cuba		coasts	León (J. S. Sauget) & Alain (E. E. Liogier). 1946-1969. Flora de Cuba
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Dominica		coasts	Howard, R. 1974-1989. Flora of the lesser Antilles. Note: lists as Thalassia testudinum Banks & Sol. ex K. D. Koenig
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Dominican Republic		coasts
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Grenada		coasts	Howard, R. 1974-1989. Flora of the lesser Antilles. Note: lists as Thalassia testudinum Banks & Sol. ex K. D. Koenig
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Guadeloupe		coasts	Howard, R. 1974-1989. Flora of the lesser Antilles. Note: lists as Thalassia testudinum Banks & Sol. ex K. D. Koenig
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Haiti		coasts
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Jamaica		coasts	Adams, C. 1972. Flowering plants of Jamaica
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Martinique		coasts	Howard, R. 1974-1989. Flora of the lesser Antilles. Note: lists as Thalassia testudinum Banks & Sol. ex K. D. Koenig
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	United States	Puerto Rico	coasts
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	United States	Virgin Islands, U.S.	coasts	Acevedo-Rodríguez, P. et al. 1996. Flora of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 78:1-581. Note: lists as Thalassia testudinum Banks & Sol. ex J. Koenig
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Virgin Islands (British)		coasts	Acevedo-Rodríguez, P. et al. 1996. Flora of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 78:1-581. Note: lists as Thalassia testudinum Banks & Sol. ex J. Koenig
1	Native	Southern America	Central America	Belize		coasts	Balick, M. J. et al. 2000. Checklist of the vascular plants of Belize, with common names and uses. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 85
1	Native	Southern America	Central America	Costa Rica		e. coast	Hammel, B. E. et al., eds. 2003-. Manual de plantas de Costa Rica
1	Native	Southern America	Central America	Guatemala		e. coast	Davidse, G. et al., eds. 1994. Flora mesoamericana. Note: lists as Thalassia testudinum Banks & Sol. ex K. D. Koenig
1	Native	Southern America	Central America	Honduras		e. coast	Davidse, G. et al., eds. 1994. Flora mesoamericana. Note: lists as Thalassia testudinum Banks & Sol. ex K. D. Koenig
1	Native	Southern America	Central America	Nicaragua		e. coast	Stevens, W. D. et al., eds. 2001. Flora de Nicaragua. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 85(1-3). Note: lists as Thalassia testudinum Banks & Sol. ex K. D. Koenig
1	Native	Southern America	Central America	Panama		e. coast	Davidse, G. et al., eds. 1994. Flora mesoamericana. Note: lists as Thalassia testudinum Banks & Sol. ex K. D. Koenig
1	Native	Southern America	Northern South America	Venezuela		n. coast
1	Native	Southern America	Western South America	Colombia		n.e. coast

Native
Northern America

SOUTHEASTERN U.S.A.: United States [Florida (coasts), Louisiana (s. coast)]
SOUTH-CENTRAL U.S.A.: United States [Texas (s.e. coast)]
SOUTHERN MEXICO: Mexico [Campeche (coasts), Quintana Roo (coasts), Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave (coasts), Yucatán (coasts)]

Southern America

CARIBBEAN: Antigua and Barbuda (coasts), Bahamas (coasts), Bermuda (coasts), Barbados (coasts), Cuba (coasts), Cayman Islands (coasts), Dominica (coasts), Dominican Republic (coasts), Guadeloupe (coasts), Grenada (coasts), Haiti (coasts), Jamaica (coasts), Martinique (coasts), United States [Puerto Rico (coasts), Virgin Islands, U.S. (coasts)], Virgin Islands (British) (coasts)
CENTRAL AMERICA: Belize (coasts), Costa Rica (e. coast), Guatemala (e. coast), Honduras (e. coast), Nicaragua (e. coast), Panama (e. coast)
NORTHERN SOUTH AMERICA: Venezuela (n. coast)
WESTERN SOUTH AMERICA: Colombia (n.e. coast)

Reference(s)

Acevedo-Rodríguez, P. et al. 1996. Flora of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 78:1-581. Note: lists as Thalassia testudinum Banks & Sol. ex J. Koenig
Adams, C. 1972. Flowering plants of Jamaica
Balick, M. J. et al. 2000. Checklist of the vascular plants of Belize, with common names and uses. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 85
Correll, D. S. & H. B. Correll. 1982. Flora of the Bahama archipelago. Note: lists as Thalassia testudinum Banks & Sol. ex K. D. Koenig
Davidse, G. et al., eds. 1994. Flora mesoamericana. Note: lists as Thalassia testudinum Banks & Sol. ex K. D. Koenig
FNA Editorial Committee. 1993-. Flora of North America. Note: lists as Thalassia testudinum Banks ex K. D. Koenig
Hammel, B. E. et al., eds. 2003-. Manual de plantas de Costa Rica
Howard, R. 1974-1989. Flora of the lesser Antilles. Note: lists as Thalassia testudinum Banks & Sol. ex K. D. Koenig
León (J. S. Sauget) & Alain (E. E. Liogier). 1946-1969. Flora de Cuba
Proctor, G. R. 1984. Flora of the Cayman Islands. Kew Bulletin Additional Series XI. Note: lists as Thalassia testudinum K. D. Koenig ex K. D. Koenig & Simms
Stevens, W. D. et al., eds. 2001. Flora de Nicaragua. Monogr. Syst. Bot. Missouri Bot. Gard. 85(1-3). Note: lists as Thalassia testudinum Banks & Sol. ex K. D. Koenig

Cite as: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System. 2026. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN Taxonomy). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: https://npgsweb.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=458468. Accessed 9 November 2026.