''Ruppia maritima'' is an
aquatic plant species commonly known as beaked tasselweed, ditch grass, tassel pondweed and widgeon grass. Despite its
scientific name, it is not a
marine plant; is perhaps best described as a
salt-tolerant freshwater species.
[Kantrud, H. A. (1991)]
Classification and Distribution - Wigeongrass (''Ruppia maritima'' L.): A literature review.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The generic name ''Ruppia'' was dedicated by Linnaeus to the German botanist
Heinrich Bernhard Ruppius (1689-1719) and the specific name (maritima) translates to "of the sea".
Distribution
It can be found throughout the world, most often in coastal areas, where it grows in
brackish water
Brackish water, sometimes termed brack water, is water occurring in a natural environment that has more salinity than freshwater, but not as much as seawater. It may result from mixing seawater (salt water) and fresh water together, as in estuari ...
bodies, such as
marsh
A marsh is a wetland that is dominated by herbaceous rather than woody plant species.Keddy, P.A. 2010. Wetland Ecology: Principles and Conservation (2nd edition). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. 497 p Marshes can often be found a ...
es. It is a dominant plant in a great many shoreline regions. It does not grow well in
turbid
Turbidity is the cloudiness or haziness of a fluid caused by large numbers of individual particles that are generally invisible to the naked eye, similar to smoke in air. The measurement of turbidity is a key test of water quality.
Fluids can ...
water or low-oxygen substrates.
[Kantrud, H. A. (1991)]
Habitat - Wigeongrass (''Ruppia maritima'' L.): A literature review.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Description
''Ruppia maritima'' is a thread-thin, grasslike annual or perennial
[ herb which grows from a rhizome anchored shallowly in the wet substrate. It produces a long, narrow, straight or loosely coiled ]inflorescence
An inflorescence is a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a Plant stem, stem that is composed of a main branch or a complicated arrangement of branches. Morphology (biology), Morphologically, it is the modified part of the shoot of sperma ...
tipped with two tiny flowers. The plant often self-pollinates, but the flowers also release pollen that reaches other plants as it floats away on bubbles.[Kantrud, H. A. (1991)]
Development and Reproduction - Wigeongrass (''Ruppia maritima'' L.): A literature review.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The fruits are drupelets. They are dispersed in the water and inside the digestive system of fish and waterbirds that eat them.[ The plant also reproduces vegetatively by sprouting from its rhizome to form colonies.][
]
Taxonomy and nomenclature
On the basis of molecular phylogenetic analyses, a species complex, named ''R''. ''maritima'' complex, had been discerned, which was then extended to include eight lineages, or nine lineages.
A lectotype for '' R. cirrhosa'' is designated and the name is shown to be a homotypic synonym of ''R. maritima''.[Ito, Y., T. Ohi-Toma, C. Nepi, A. Santangelo, A. Stinca, N. Tanaka, & J. Murata (2017]
Towards a better understanding of the ''Ruppia maritima'' complex (Ruppiaceae): Notes on the correct application and typification of the names ''R. cirrhosa'' and ''R. spiralis''
''Taxon
In biology, a taxon ( back-formation from '' taxonomy''; plural taxa) is a group of one or more populations of an organism or organisms seen by taxonomists to form a unit. Although neither is required, a taxon is usually known by a particular n ...
'' 66: 167-171
Wetlands and wildlife
This plant and the epiphytic algae attached to the floating leaves can be an important part of the diet for selected herbivorous waterfowl
Anseriformes is an order of birds also known as waterfowl that comprises about 180 living species of birds in three families: Anhimidae (three species of screamers), Anseranatidae (the magpie goose), and Anatidae, the largest family, which i ...
species, but not important for predatory waterfowl that eat fish or invertebrate animals. In many areas, wetlands restoration begins with the recovery and protection of this plant.[Kantrud, H. A. (1991)]
Introduction - Wigeongrass (''Ruppia maritima'' L.): A literature review.
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
See also
* Wetland indicator status
*Wetland conservation
Wetland conservation is aimed at protecting and preserving areas where water exists at or near the Earth's surface, such as swamps, marshes and bogs. Wetlands cover at least six per cent of the Earth and have become a focal issue for conservation ...
* Wetland classification
*Constructed wetland
A constructed wetland is an artificial wetland to treat sewage, greywater, stormwater runoff or industrial wastewater. It may also be designed for land reclamation after mining, or as a mitigation step for natural areas lost to land development ...
References
External links
Jepson Manual Treatment - ''Ruppia maritima''
''Ruppia maritima'' - Photo gallery
{{Taxonbar, from=Q164107
maritima
Brackish water plants
Freshwater plants
Salt marsh plants
Flora of North America
Flora of South America
Flora of Africa
Flora of Asia
Flora of Europe
Bird food plants
Flora of Australia
Plants described in 1753
Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus