Amphibolis antarctica | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Order: | Alismatales |
Family: | Cymodoceaceae |
Genus: | Amphibolis |
Species: | A. antarctica |
Binomial name | |
Amphibolis antarctica | |
Synonyms [2] | |
Amphibolis bicornisC.Agardh Contents |
Amphibolis antarctica is a species of flowering plant in the family Cymodoceaceae. [2] [3] It is referred to by the common names wire weed [4] or sea nymph, [5] and is a seagrass found in coastal waters of southern and western Australia.
It is a herbaceous perennial up to 80 centimetres high. It has shorter leaves than the other Amphibolis species, A. griffithii . Its flowers are green, and appear from September to February. [5] [6]
First published as Ruppia antarctica by Jacques Labillardière in 1807, it has since been moved into numerous genera. It was named Caulinia antarctica by Robert Brown in 1810, Posidonia antarctica by C. P. J. Sprengel in 1824, Cymodocea antarctica by C. S. Kunth in 1841, and Phucagrostis antarctica by F. J. Ruprecht in 1852. It was finally placed in Amphibolis by Paul Friedrich August Ascherson in 1868, but in 1913 J. M. Black renamed it Pectinella antarctica. Since 1977 it is widely accepted as belonging to Amphibolis. [7]
The species is generally reported as occurring from Exmouth Gulf on the north-west coast of Western Australia, south along the west coast and east along the south coast as far as Wilsons Promontory in Victoria. [8] However FloraBase reports an isolated specimen record from east of Port Hedland, over 500 kilometres north-east of Exmouth Gulf. [5]
It occur primarily in the sublittoral zone, where it forms extensive meadows. It can occur as deep as 27 metres, but does not often form meadows below 13 metres. It can also grow in extremely shallow waters, with its leaves floating on the surface, although this often results in leaf damage and loss. The species tolerates a range of habitats. It has been found growing on a variety of substrates, including sand-covered rock, gravel, sand and clay. It grows in areas of both high and low water flow, and occurs in areas of very high salinity. [8]
Emblingia is a monospecific plant genus containing the species Emblingia calceoliflora, a herbaceous prostrate subshrub endemic to Western Australia. It has no close relatives, and is now generally placed alone in family Emblingiaceae.
Conospermum stoechadis subsp. sclerophyllum is a shrub endemic to Western Australia.
Stirlingia, commonly known as blueboy, is a genus of 7 species in the family Proteaceae, all of which are endemic to Western Australia.
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.
Amphibolis griffithii is a seagrass found in waters along the southwestern coasts of Western Australia, extending to Encounter Bay in South Australia.
Atriplex bunburyana, commonly known as silver saltbush, is a species of saltbush endemic to Western Australia.
Posidonia australis, also known as fibre-ball weed or ribbon weed, is a species of seagrass that occurs in the southern waters of Australia. It forms large meadows important to environmental conservation. Balls of decomposing detritus from the foliage are found along nearby shore-lines.
Posidonia is a genus of flowering plants. It contains nine species of marine plants ("seagrass"), found in the seas of the Mediterranean and around the south coast of Australia.
Chenopodium baccatum, commonly known as berry saltbush, is a species of shrub endemic to Western Australia.
The Seagrasses of Western Australia are submerged flowering plants found along the coast, around islands, and in Estuaries of Western Australia. The region contains some of the largest seagrass meadows in the world, and is the most diverse in the number of species. The variety of habitats along its western and southern coasts is often soft sands in shallow subtropical waters, ideal for these plants.
Gahnia trifida, the coastal saw-sedge, is a tussock-forming perennial in the family Cyperaceae, endemic to southern Australia.
Austrostipa crinita is a species of grass that grows in coastal parts of midwest Western Australia.
Brachyscome ciliaris, commonly known as variable daisy, is a small bushy perennial herb with a prominent flower, which occurs throughout most of temperate Australia
Bulbine semibarbata, commonly known as leek lily, native leek or wild onion, is a species of annual herb native to Australia.
Daucus glochidiatus, commonly known as Australian carrot, Austral carrot or native carrot, is a species of herb in the flowering plant family Apiaceae. It is native to Australia and New Zealand.
Podotheca angustifolia, commonly known as sticky longheads, is a species of herb native to Australia.
Senecio glossanthus is an annual herb native to Australia. In Western Australia it is commonly known as slender groundsel.
Leptorhynchos is a genus of annual or perennial herbs in the family Asteraceae. All species are endemic to Australia. These include:
Muehlenbeckia adpressa, commonly known as climbing lignum, is a prostrate or climbing plant, native to Australia. It has thin red-brown stems up to 1 metre in length. The leaves are 1.5–6 centimetres (0.59–2.36 in) long and 1.5–3.5 centimetres (0.59–1.38 in) wide. It occurs in coastal areas of Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and New South Wales.
Taxandria marginata is a species of shrub that grows in the south west corner of Western Australia. This plant was previously classified as Agonis marginata but was reclassified by Wheeler and Marchant into the new genus Taxandria in a 2007 revision.