Thalassia testudinum

Thalassia testudinum in San Salvador, Bahamas

Thalassia testudinum is one of two species in the genus Thalassia. It occurs in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean.

Description

Rhizomes are elongated and have a diameter of 3 to 6 millimeters. The leaves measure 10 to 60 × 0.4 to 1.2 centimeters. They are entire, only towards the tip of the edge is serrated. Leaf veins are 9-15 available. The male inflorescence is one to dreiblütig. The inflorescence axis is 3-7 inches long. The edges of the Spathas are fused on one side. The female inflorescence is flowered. The inflorescence axis is 3 to 4 inches long. The Spathas are fused on both sides. The stems of the male flowers are 1.2 to 2.5 inches long. There are nine stamens present. The female flowers are almost sessile. You have 7 or 8 stylus. The fruits are light green to yellow- green or red. They have a diameter of 1.5 to 2.5 centimeters and 5-8 opening fruit flaps. The beak is 4-7 millimeters long.

The flowering period extends from spring to summer.

Dissemination

Thalassia testudinum comes from the USA (Florida, Louisiana and Texas ) and Mexico through Central America and the West Indies to South America ( Colombia) ago. The species grows on the seabed of organic material, rocky material, coral sand or dead coral reefs from sea level to 10 meters depth in very clear water.

Ecology

The species is possibly represents one of the most important marine seed plants on the coasts of the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, for example for substrate stabilization. Then go into areas with populations of Thalassia testudinum during a hurricane lost very little substrate, compared with areas without the Art This is achieved through the roots and rhizomes, which hold the substrate, as well as through the leaves, which reduce the flow rate of water.

System

Thalassia testudinum in 1805 was first described in an article by Charles Dietrich Eberhard König, who attributed the name of the botanist Joseph Banks, because his description was based on herbarium material and unpublished manuscripts of Banks.

Documents

• Robert R. Haynes: Thalassia testudinum. In: Flora of North America Vol 22 Hydrocharitaceae. (online)