Amphibolis griffithii
Encyclopedia
Amphibolis griffithii is a seagrass
found in waters along the southwestern coasts of Western Australia.
The leaves are arranged at the end of its many branches, attached in an overlapping sheath, and are bright green, perhaps with red patches. These assist in maintaining the meadows cohesion by protecting against erosion from the ocean's currents. Each leaf blade may be up to 75mm long, with a uniform width of 2.5 to 6mm, four or five of the ribbon-like leaves rise upward from the many branches. The form of the sheath, and the longer leaves, differentiate this species from its cogenor , and it is found in rougher oceans than that species.
. The occurrence of is also recorded near island groups of Houtman Abrolhos
and the Archipelago of the Recherche
. The species is found in areas of fast and constant ocean currents, the rhizomes forming dense mats on soft sand subsrates. It is restricted to depths less than 16 metres in its distribution range, and it is often associated with limestone or reef ecologies. The detritus is frequently found in rotting piles along the shoreline, these are a rich habitat for other plant and animal species. The distribution range is smaller than that of , occupying a narrower range of habitat, possibly due to less tolerance of water temperatures and salinity.
Seagrass
Seagrasses are flowering plants from one of four plant families , all in the order Alismatales , which grow in marine, fully saline environments.-Ecology:...
found in waters along the southwestern coasts of Western Australia.
Description
A common marine herb, the rhizomatous plant forms meadows which stabilise sands; the intertwining roots and leaves protects the substrate from ocean currents. The species is perennial, bears its male and female flowers on separate plants, and produces fruit on the leaves. The plant reproduces by viviparous means, the seed germinating before leaving the plant and floating freely. The seedling forms a comb of bristles that can anchor it at the new site before the development of roots and a rhizome allow the plant to fully establish itself.The leaves are arranged at the end of its many branches, attached in an overlapping sheath, and are bright green, perhaps with red patches. These assist in maintaining the meadows cohesion by protecting against erosion from the ocean's currents. Each leaf blade may be up to 75mm long, with a uniform width of 2.5 to 6mm, four or five of the ribbon-like leaves rise upward from the many branches. The form of the sheath, and the longer leaves, differentiate this species from its cogenor , and it is found in rougher oceans than that species.
Distribution
Found along the western coast of Australia, south of Geraldton, and along the southern coastlines to Victor Harbor, South AustraliaVictor Harbor, South Australia
Victor Harbor is a city located on the coast of the Fleurieu Peninsula, about 80 km south of Adelaide, South Australia. The city is the largest population centre on the peninsula, with an economy based upon agriculture, fisheries and various industries...
. The occurrence of is also recorded near island groups of Houtman Abrolhos
Houtman Abrolhos
The Houtman Abrolhos is a chain of 122 islands, and associated coral reefs, in the Indian Ocean off the west coast of Australia. Nominally located at , it lies about eighty kilometres west of Geraldton, Western Australia...
and the Archipelago of the Recherche
Archipelago of the Recherche
Archipelago of the Recherche is a group of 105 islands, and over 1200 "obstacles to shipping", off the southern coast of Western Australia. The islands, also known as the Recherche Archipelago, stretch from East to West and to off-shore....
. The species is found in areas of fast and constant ocean currents, the rhizomes forming dense mats on soft sand subsrates. It is restricted to depths less than 16 metres in its distribution range, and it is often associated with limestone or reef ecologies. The detritus is frequently found in rotting piles along the shoreline, these are a rich habitat for other plant and animal species. The distribution range is smaller than that of , occupying a narrower range of habitat, possibly due to less tolerance of water temperatures and salinity.