Ruppia maritima L. APNI* 
Description: Submerged perennial with stem to 8 cm long; turions absent.
Leaves to 15 cm long and 0.5 mm wide, apex acute or obtuse.
Inflorescence pollinated and maturing below the surface; peduncle usually < 5 cm long, not coiled but often recurved in fruit. Carpels 2–5, initially subsessile; stipe lengthening as the carpel matures until it is longer than the carpel, mature stipe < 2 cm long, usually 1 cm long.
Fruit flask-shaped, almost symmetrical, 2–4 mm long, 1–1.5 mm wide, black; endocarp beak to 0.5 mm long with a narrow-ovate to ovate perforation on each side.
Flowering: spring–autumn.
Distribution and occurrence: Grows in brackish to hypersaline perennial waterbodies; in coastal areas and inland districts. It is barely possible to distinguish the plants from estuaries and ports (old and new) from those growing inland. It is possible that those plants growing in ports represent introductions whereas the inland plants appear to be native.
NSW subdivisions: NC, CC, SC, SWP
Other Australian states: Qld Vic. W.A. S.A. N.T.
Text by S. W. L. Jacobs & S. Papassotiriou (1993); edited KL Wilson (after SWL Jacobs, Fl Australia ms) Feb 2010
Taxon concept: Flora of NSW 4 (1993)
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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