Morphology
Z. capricorni has an herbaceous rhizome system with a short lateral shoot at each node, each of which bears up to six leaves. The rhizome has elongate internodes with 1-2 or more groups of long thin roots at each node. The linear leaf blade is thin and translucent. There is a total of five main longitudinal veins, however three very distinct dark green intermarginal veins are especially visible when held against the light. Cross veins, if present, run at right angles to the longitudinal veins. Leaves are 2-5 cm wide and vary in length from several centimetres to over half a metre. The leaf tip is blunt and the leaf margin generally smooth, but rarely slightly denticulate (with 'teeth'). A ligule is present. Z. capricorni is characterised by the presence of a prophyllum, i.e. a single leaf originating from the rhizome instead of from the vertical, leafbearing shoot. This is the only seagrass to exhibit this feature.