Staminate flowers of the non-native seagrass, <i>Halophila stipulacea,</i> observed for the first time in Biscayne Bay, Florida, USA

Abstract Halophila stipulacea is a dioecious seagrass native to the Red Sea and the western Indian Ocean. It has rapidly expanded to the Mediterranean and Caribbean Seas. While sexual reproduction has been reported within its native range, observations of reproductive structures across its invasive ranges are limited, particularly within the Caribbean. We report instances of staminate flowers of H. stipulacea in a recently established population in the United States. Neither fruits nor pistillate flowers were detected. As this species can be fecund across its native range, additional information on its reproductive ecology is key to understanding its spread into novel regions.