Heterozostera nigricaulis J.Kuo APNI* 
Description: Monoecious, submerged rhizomatous perennial seagrass with erect stems to c. 30 cm high; stems and inflorescences growing in spring and summer, deciduous in winter.
Leaves with blade linear, to 30 cm long and 3 mm wide, 3-veined, apex obtuse with a notch; sheath 2–4 cm long with membranous margins.
Inflorescence similar in appearance and dimension to vegetative shoots. Spathe similar to leaves, 2–10 cm long, the blade falling after flowering. Spadix with 3–6 flowers of each sex; retinacula linear-lanceolate, 2–3 mm long. Inflorescences shed at maturity.
Seeds ovoid to elliptic, c. 4 mm long, striate, dispersed by dropping from floating inflorescences.
Flowering: during warmer months.
Distribution and occurrence: Grows in submerged marine or estuarine habitats, rarely exposed at low tide; south from Port Stephens. Also in Vic, Tas, SA, WA.
NSW subdivisions: NC, CC, SC
Other Australian states: Vic. Tas. S.A. W.A. Tas.
This species was known as H. tasmanica for many years, but that species is not found in NSW.
Text by S. W. L. Jacobs (1993, as H. tasmanica); edited KL Wilson (Feb 2013)
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 4 (1993); Jacobs and Les (2008) Telopea 12: 419-423
APNI* Provides a link to the Australian Plant Name Index (hosted by the Australian National Botanic Gardens) for comprehensive bibliographic data
***The AVH map option provides a detailed interactive Australia wide distribution map drawn from collections held by all major Australian herbaria participating in the Australian Virtual Herbarium project.
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