Lepilaena

Lepilaena
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Monocots
Order: Alismatales
Family: Potamogetonaceae
Genus: Lepilaena
J.Drumm. ex W.H.Harvey[1]

Lepilaena is a genus of aquatic and marine flowering plant comprising 6 or more species endemic[2][3] to coastal and brackish or akaline inland waters of temperate Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand.[4][2]

The species are appended with common names that derive from their description as water-mats; for example, L. australis is referred to as Austral water-mat and L. marina as Sea water-mat.

Interpretation of molecular evidence for this poorly studied genus suggests a close affinity with Zannichellia, another genus of aquatic plants.[4] Two species are noted for their occurrence in marine environs, L. cylindrocarpa and L. marina, in estuaries and tidal flats.[4] L. cylindrocarpa is also found in a variety of brackish inland waters of mainland Australia.[5] Other species may be found in habitats of fresh to brackish, still or slowly moving, coastal or inland waters.

Species

The species currently recognised include:

References

  1. ^ Hooker's J. Bot. Kew Gard. Misc. 7: 57. 1855 IPNI
  2. ^ a b Hammer, Ulrich Theodore (1986). Saline Lake Ecosystems of the World. Springer London, Limited. ISBN 9789061935353. 
  3. ^ Klaus Kubitzki, ed (1998). Flowering Plants. Monocotyledons: Alismatanae and Commelinanae (except Gramineae) (The Families and Genera of Vascular Plants). Springer. p. 472. ISBN 978-3540640615. 
  4. ^ a b c d e Larkum, Anthony W.D.; Duarte, Carlos; Orth, Robert J., eds (2005). "Taxonomy and biogeorgraphy of seagrasses". Seagrasses: Biology, Ecology and Conservation. Springer-Verlag New York, LLC. ISBN 9781402029424. 
  5. ^ a b "Lepilaena cylindrocarpa (Muell.Stuttg.)". FloraBase. Department of Environment and Conservation, Government of Western Australia. http://florabase.dec.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/120.