Posidonia coriacea

Posidonia coriacea
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Monocots
Order: Alismatales
Family: Posidoniaceae
Genus: Posidonia
Species: P. coriacea
Binomial name
Posidonia coriacea
Cambridge & J.Kuo

Posidonia coriacea is a species of seagrass that occurs in the southern waters of Australia.

Description

A species of Posidonia. A perennial rhizomatous herb that appears as stands in marine habitat. This species is found at depths from 1 to 30 metres on white sands, in areas subject to intense wave action. The leaf blades are 2.5 to 7 millimetres wide, and 1.25 metres long. Two or three leaves, with large bases, appear from each shoot. They are leathery and thickened convexly on the upper and lower surfaces. Between 7 and 11 veins appear on each leaf. The leaf sheath breaks into strips, rather than the fibrous detritus of similar species. The flowering period is primarily during the months of August and September.

Distribution

Posidonia coriacea is recorded at Shark Bay, Western Australia, around coasts of Southwest Australia, and across the Bight to South Australia.

Taxonomy

This species is contained by the Posidoniaceae family, one of eight occurring in southern Australia. The ninth member, Posidonia oceanica, is found in the mediterranean sea. Several related species within Posidonia are described as the Posidonia ostenfeldii complex.

References

  1. ↑ Short, F.T., Carruthers, T.J.R., Waycott, M., Kendrick, G.A., Fourqurean, J.W., Callabine, A., Kenworthy, W.J. & Dennison, W.C. 2010. Posidonia coriacea. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 9 January 2013.
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