- Amphibolis antarctica
Taxobox
regnum =Plant ae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Liliopsida
ordo =Alismatales
familia =Cymodoceaceae
genus = "Amphibolis "
species = "A. antarctica"
binomial = "Amphibolis antarctica"
binomial_authority = (Labill. )Asch. "Amphibolis antarctica", commonly known as Sea Nymph,FloraBase|name=Amphibolis griffithii|id=127] is a
seagrass found in coastal waters of southern and western Australia.Description
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.cite paper | first = Sophie | last = Ducker | coauthors = N. John Forde; R. Bruce Knox | year = 1977 | title = Biology of Australian Seagrasses: The Genus "Amphibolis" C. Agardh (Cymodoceaceae) | journal =Australian Journal of Botany | volume = 25 | pages = 67–95]Taxonomy
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 " byPaul 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".APNI | name = "Amphibolis antarctica" (Labill.) Sond. & Asch. ex Asch. | id = 32302]Distribution and habitat
The species is generally reported as occurring from
Exmouth Gulf on the north-west coast ofWestern Australia , south along the west coast and east along the south coast as far asWilsons Promontory in Victoria.cite web | url = http://wwwscience.murdoch.edu.au/centres/others/seagrass/amphibolis.html | title = Amphibolis | accessdate = 2008-03-08 | author = Mike van Keulen | work = Western Australian Seagrass | publisher =Murdoch University ] HoweverFloraBase reports an isolated specimen record from east of Port Hedland, over 500 kilometres north-east of Exmouth Gulf.It occur primarily in the
sublittoral zone , where it forms extensivemeadow s. 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.References
External links
*
*
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
