Amphibolis

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Sea nymph or wire weed
Amphibolis antarctica 1859.jpg
Amphibolis antarctica [1]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Alismatales
Family: Cymodoceaceae
Genus: Amphibolis
(Labillardière) Sonder & Ascherson ex Ascherson
Synonyms [2]
  • GraumuelleraRchb.
  • PectinellaJ.M.Black

Amphibolis is a genus in the family Cymodoceaceae. It includes two species of sea grass endemic to the western and southern coast of Australia, Amphibolis antarctica and Amphibolis griffithii , commonly known as sea nymph or wire weed.

Contents

The seeds produce an anchoring comb of bristles while they mature on the female plant, giving the seedling a purchase when it arrives at a new site.

A type of seagrass, the plants of this genus forms meadows on calcareous sands. These meadows, and their consequent detritus, become an important source of food and shelter for a number of marine species. The interweaving roots and leaves consolidate the substrate of the ocean floor, protecting it from erosion by currents and wave action. [ citation needed ]

Species

There are two species: [2]

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References

  1. 1859 illustration from Linnean Society of London - Transactions of the Linnean Society of London v22
  2. 1 2 Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families