PORT PHILLIP BAY


Seagrass 

Lepilaena marina

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

Main information sources:
Womersley, H.B.S., (1984-2003). The Marine Benthic Flora of Southern Australia. Part 1-3d. Govt. Printer, South Australia.
Baldock, R.N. 2010. Algae Revealed. South Australian State Herbarium. Website.
AlgaeBase. Website.

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Tracheophyta
Subphylum:
Euphyllophytina
Superclass:
Angiospermae
Class:
Liliopsida
Subclass:
Alismatidae
Order:
Alismatales
Family:
Potamogetonaceae
Genus:
Lepilaena
Species:
marina

General Description

Leaves are linear with the apex curved to blunt (truncate) and a distinctive point (mucro). Leaf sheath is delicate, translucent (membranous) and deeply cleft. Leafy shoots occur at alternate rhizomal nodes with unbranched roots. Rhizome is multibranched with stem-clasping (amplexicaul) structures. Up to 5 cm long (leafy shoot).

Biology

Each one of these fine delicate plants is either male and female (dioecious). It flowers and fruits from September to December. Locally, it grows in Swan Bay and Williamstown, usually in association with Zostera muelleri seagrass.

Habitat

Soft sediments, intertidal brackish waters, to depth of 1 m.

Soft substrates

Coastal shores

Distribution guide

Southern Australia.

Species Group

Seaweeds and seagrasses Seagrasses

Depth

Shore (0-1 m)

Water Column

On or near sea floor

Max Size

5 cm

Diet

Photosynthetic - sunlight

Commercial Species

No

Global Dispersal

Native to Australia

Identify

Conservation Status

  • DSE Advisory List : Not listed
  • EPBC Act 1999 : Not listed
  • IUCN Red List : Data Deficient

Author

article author Pocklington, Jacqui

Jacqui Pocklington is a Research Associate with expertise in algal taxonomy.

citation

Cite this page as:
Pocklington, Jacqui, 2011, Seagrass, Lepilaena marina, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 10 Dec 2024, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/12330

Text: creative commons cc by licence