Ruppia polycarpa R.Mason APNI* 
Description: Surface-flowering submerged aquatic annual or perennial; stems to 40 cm long, with the longer stems formed in deeper water; turions formed in some ephemeral habitats.
Leaves 5–15 cm long, usually < 0.5 mm wide, apex obtuse or acute.
Peduncle length partially dependent on water depth, usually < 1 m long, but > 10 cm long, peduncle coils after pollination. Flowers with 4–16 (usually 6–8) carpels. Carpels initially subsessile, stipe lengthening as the carpel matures until it is longer than the carpel.
Fruit slightly asymmetric, 2–3 mm long, 0.5–0.8 mm wide, black; endocarp with a beak < 0.5 mm long and an elliptic or narrow-elliptic perforation on each side.
Flowering: spring–autumn.
Distribution and occurrence: Grows in fresh to hypersaline coastal lakes, lagoons and estuaries.
NSW subdivisions: CC, SC, ST
Other Australian states: Vic. Tas. W.A. S.A.
Text by S. W. L. Jacobs & S. Papassotiriou
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.
|
