PlantNET Home DONATE TODAY | PlantNET Home | Search NSW Flora | Contact Us  
FloraOnline
Introduction
Plant Name Search
Index Search
Spatial Search
Identification Keys
Classification
Glossary
WeedAlert
Telopea Journal
Other Data Sources
NEW SOUTH WALES FLORA ONLINE Printable Page

Family POSIDONIACEAE

Description: Fully submerged marine or estuarine rhizomatous perennials with strap-like leaves and submerged flowers.

Leaves with a sheathing base, ligulate. The sheath fibres persistent and often washed up as characteristic 'fibre-balls'.

Inflorescence a terminal cluster of spikes on a leafless stem. Lower spikes subtended by leaf-like bract and 2 or more bladeless bracts. Each subsequent spike subtended by outer bracts with progressively shorter blades as well as the 2 or more bladeless bracts. Flowers bisexual, rarely male, pollination occurring under water. Perianth absent. Stamens 3, sessile; anthers 2-locular and lobes well separated by the broad connective, dehiscing by longitudinal slits; pollen thread-like. Carpel solitary, superior, with 1 ovule.

Fruit with a spongy pericarp, floating when first released, 1-seeded.


Distribution and occurrence: World: 1 genus, 9 species, Australia & Mediterranean region. Australia: 8 species (endemic), N.S.W., Vic., Tas., S.A., W.A.

External links:
Angiosperm Phylogeny Website (Family: Posidoniaceae, Order: Alismatales)
Wikipedia

Text by S. W. L. Jacobs
Taxon concept:

One genus in NSW: Posidonia

  Privacy | Copyright | Disclaimer | About PlantNET | Cite PlantNET