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Ruppia maritima

L. (1753)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Monocots Order: Alismatales Family: Ruppiaceae Genus: Ruppia

ditchgrass, limupakai (Ni‘ihau via St. John), widgeon grass

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Plants completely submerged rooted in seawater.

Stems: Stems greenish to brownish, capillary or slender, terete (cylindrical), (2–)4–10 dm long, many-branched, arising from creeping rhizomes.

Roots: Fibrous root system, also rooting at nodes.

Leaves: Leaves simple. Alternate, all similar, well-spaced or somewhat clustered. Blades linear, 10–100 mm long, 0.2–0.5(–1) mm wide. Apex rounded to obtuse. Base expanded into an open sheath. Margins entire. Only the midvein evident. Sheathing. Stipules membranous, sheathing and adnoate to leaf bases, sheath (2–)5–20(–70) mm long, ligule ± present.

Flowers: Flowers 2 per peduncle, axillary, peduncles at first short, elongating up to 3 dm long in fruit, often spiraling or coiling, during anthesis the peduncles and flowers concealed by the sheath of the uppermost stem leaves, the sheath ruptured by the elongating peduncle during anthesis as the flowers move to position slightly above the water surface. Flowers very small and inconspicuous, bisexual (perfect). Calyx (sepals) absent. Corolla (petals) absent. Stamens 2; anthers subsessile, dithecal, opening by longitudinal slits, the relatively large pollen sacs well separated on an expanded connective. Ovary superior, carpels (2–)4(–8), distinct, each carpel becoming elevated on a slender stipe in fruit so that the carpels of each flower form an umbelliform cluster; ovule 1, pendulous, campylotropous; stigma sessile or subsessile, peltate or umbonate.

Fruit: Fruit small; drupaceous; asymmetrically ovoid; borne on the slender stipe that continually elongates as the fruit matures; the stipe often twisted.; fruit symmetrical to asymmetrical; ovoid to pyriform; (1.5–)2–3(–4) mm long; the beak erect or curved; the elongate stipe 4–15(–35) mm long. Seeds without endosperm.

Ploidy: 2n = 16; 20; 24; 40

Habitat: Aquatic; occurring in brackish ponds and estuaries or similar man–made watercourses.

Elevation Range: 0–15 m.

Historical Distribution

Images

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Synonyms (51)

Buccaferrea maritima (L.) Lunell (1915)
Ruppia andina Phil. (1894)
Ruppia brachypus J.Gay (1849)
Ruppia brachypus subsp. bahusiensis Lindstr. (1920)
Ruppia brevipes Bertol. ex Griseb. (1864)
Ruppia cirrhosa subsp. longipes (Hagstr.) Á.Löve (1970)
Ruppia curvicarpa A.Nelson (1899)
Ruppia intermedia C.G.H.Thed. (1886)
Ruppia maritima f. aculeata Hagstr. (1911)
Ruppia maritima f. brevirostris C.Agardh (1823)
Ruppia maritima f. curvirostris H.St.John & Fosberg (1939)
Ruppia maritima f. pacifica H.St.John & Fosberg (1939)
Ruppia maritima f. pectinata Hagstr. (1911)
Ruppia maritima proles brachypus (J.Gay) Rouy (1912)
Ruppia maritima proles brevirostris (C.Agardh) Graebn. (1907)
Ruppia maritima proles curvicarpa (A.Nelson) Graebn. (1907)
Ruppia maritima subsp. brachypus (J.Gay) Bonnier & Layens (1894)
Ruppia maritima subsp. brevirostris C.Agardh (1823)
Ruppia maritima subsp. intermedia (C.G.H.Thed.) Piper & Beattie (1915)
Ruppia maritima subsp. obliqua (Griseb. & Schenk) Á.Löve & D.Löve (1961)
Ruppia maritima subsp. rostellata (W.D.J.Koch ex Rchb.) Asch. & Graebn. (1897)
Ruppia maritima subsp. rostrata (C.Agardh) Piper & Beattie (1915)
Ruppia maritima var. brachypus (J.Gay) K.Schum. (1894)
Ruppia maritima var. brevirostris (C.Agardh) Asch. & Graebn. (1897)
Ruppia maritima var. curvicarpa (A.Nelson) Fernald & Wiegand (1914)
Ruppia maritima var. exigua Fernald & Wiegand (1914)
Ruppia maritima var. floridana Graebn. (1907)
Ruppia maritima var. intermedia (C.G.H.Thed.) Asch. & Graebn. (1897)
Ruppia maritima var. japonica H.Hara (1983)
Ruppia maritima var. longipes Hagstr. (1911)
Ruppia maritima var. minor Mert. & W.D.J.Koch (1823)
Ruppia maritima var. obliqua (Griseb. & Schenk) Asch. & Graebn. (1897)
Ruppia maritima var. onondagensis Fernald & Wiegand (1914)
Ruppia maritima var. pacifica H.St.John & Fosberg (1939)
Ruppia maritima var. recta Moris (1827)
Ruppia maritima var. rostrata C.Agardh (1823)
Ruppia maritima var. subcapitata Fernald & Wiegand (1914)
Ruppia mexicana Hartog & Tussenbr. (2016)
Ruppia obliqua Griseb. & Schenk (1852)
Ruppia pectinata Rydb. (1900)
Ruppia rostellata W.D.J.Koch ex Rchb. (1824)
Ruppia rostellata var. brachypus (J.Gay) T.Marsson (1869)
Ruppia salina Schur (1866)
Ruppia spiralis subsp. longipes (Hagstr.) Á.Löve & D.Löve (1961)
Ruppia spiralis subsp. transsilvanica (Schur) Nyman (1882)
Ruppia subsessilis Thwaites (1864)
Ruppia taquetii H.Lév. (1911)
Ruppia transsilvanica Schur (1860)
Ruppia trichodes Durand (1847)
Ruppia zosteroides Lojac. (1909)
Zannichellia pedunculata Fuss (1854)

Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Indigenous

Island Status

Ni'ihau(Incl. Lehua) Indigenous
Kaua'i Indigenous
O'ahu Indigenous
Molokai Indigenous
Kamole(Laysan Island) Extirpated
Lana'i Indigenous
Maui Indigenous
Hawai'i Indigenous

Dispersal Agents


Pollinators

Specimens

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Bibliography

Name Published In: Sp. Pl.: 127 (1753)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:1609 (Ni, K, O, Mo, L, M, H); Athens et al. 2007 (La†, from core sample, no modern records); Hank Oppenheimer pers. obs./Degener 28591 BISH (L†, 1963)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Ruppia maritima Pohaku Paea, Camp Kinau, Halua Pond anchialine pond Preserved_Specimen 718 Maui BISH
2 Ruppia maritima Cape Kinau, Ahihi-Kinau Natural Areas Reserve Growing in anchealine pools, completely submerged. Preserved_Specimen Nagata, K.M. 3703 Maui BISH 1987-10-02
3 Ruppia maritima Waimea Bay Brackish water. Preserved_Specimen Halophyte, 30cm. Shinohara, B. 71 Oahu BISH 1946-12-01
4 Ruppia maritima East Maui, Makawao District, Cape Hanamanioa Growing submerged in anchialine ponds. Preserved_Specimen Hobdy, R.W. 98412 Maui BISH 1981-02-01
5 Ruppia maritima Mahaulepu, Ka Lae Paoo Brackish pond back of sand beach. Growing in 1ft of water. Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 20003 Kauai BISH 1939-02-14
6 Ruppia maritima Kailua Stream, Kailua Beach Abundant in brackish water just inside beach at mouth of stream. Preserved_Specimen Fosberg, F.R. 27100 Oahu BISH 1946-10-05
7 Ruppia maritima Kailua Beach In brackish water. Preserved_Specimen Fosberg, F.R. 13181 Oahu BISH 1936-07-10
8 Ruppia maritima Leahi Salty inlet, submerged. Preserved_Specimen Rooting. St.John, H. 23620 Niihau BISH 1949-03-31
9 Ruppia maritima Ahihi-Kinau Natural Area Reserve, pool near Pohaku Point In pool of slighlty brackish water. Preserved_Specimen Abbott, I.A. 91.57 Maui BISH 1991-03-06
10 Ruppia maritima East Maui, Makawao District, Kalaeloa, SW rift, near La Perouse Bay Brackish water pools. Preserved_Specimen Medeiros, A.C. 566 Maui BISH 1983-10-08
11 Ruppia maritima Niu Valley, out toward Koko Head Living stream by bridge. Preserved_Specimen Podogynes long. Setchell, W.A. 15680 Oahu BISH 1926-09-19
12 Ruppia maritima Hamakua Marsh, Kailua, mauka (mountainside) of Hamakua Drive Growing in tangled clumps in standing water. Preserved_Specimen Imada, C. 9214 Oahu BISH 1992-04-04
13 Ruppia maritima Near Honolulu, Salt Lake Submerged. Preserved_Specimen Christophersen, E. 1394 Oahu BISH 1930-08-21
14 Ruppia maritima Cape Kinau, Ahihi-Kinau Natural Areas Reserve Growing in anchealine pools, completely submerged. Preserved_Specimen Nagata, K.M. 3703 Maui BISH 1987-10-02
15 Ruppia maritima Pohue Bay In brackish Pond. Preserved_Specimen Higashino, P.K. 10212 Hawaii BISH 1984-03-26
16 Ruppia maritima Makulawena, N Kona, where 1801 lava flow enters the ocean In shallow pools (lagoons) just inland from coast. Preserved_Specimen Carlquist, S. 2100 Hawaii BISH 1966-07-30
17 Ruppia maritima Kailua Beach, in Kailua Stream, just inside the mouth In sand, barely submerged. Preserved_Specimen Prostrate, rooting at nodes. Fosberg, F.R. 55602 Oahu BISH 1974-10-12
18 Ruppia maritima Kailua Beach In brackish estuary, submerged. Preserved_Specimen Fosberg, F.R. 14038 Oahu BISH 1937-06-13
19 Ruppia maritima waimanalo, Bellows Field Submerged in sandy drainage ditch with pools of brackish water, near sea. Shaded by ironwood trees. Preserved_Specimen Rockafellow, R. Oahu BISH 1956-08-07
20 Ruppia maritima Koko Head In pond, saltwater. Preserved_Specimen Hosaka, E.Y. 162 Oahu BISH 1930-02-28
21 Ruppia maritima Honolulu, near Ala Moana Open marsh, near large number of Typha. In shallow water with green alga. Preserved_Specimen Bright-green branched stems. Neal, M.C. 1190 Oahu BISH 1939-12-02
22 Ruppia maritima Maunalua, Kuapa Pond Shallow margin. Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 10398 Oahu BISH 1930-02-28
23 Ruppia maritima Kalaupapa; airport, seasonal wetland submerged Preserved_Specimen small wispy perennial herb Wysong, M.L. 612 Molokai BISH 2005-02-08
24 Ruppia maritima Kalahuipuaa; near path #5 Anchialine pond; mixed collection with Enteromorpha intestinalis. Preserved_Specimen Abbott, I.A. 19837 Hawaii BISH 1990-06-28
25 Ruppia maritima Mahaulepu, Ka Lae Paoo Brackish pond back of sand beach. Growing in 1ft of water. Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 20003 Kauai BISH 1939-02-14
26 Ruppia maritima Poipu Beach, grounds of Sheraton Kauai Hotel In small, probably artificial pond, not conspicuously brackish at least in rainy period. Preserved_Specimen Rooted. Fosberg, F.R. 53648 Kauai BISH 1971-04-02
27 Ruppia maritima Niaupala Fishpond, Kaluaaha Submerged in shallow salt pond. Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 19946 Oahu BISH 1939-01-02
28 Ruppia maritima Punaluu fresh water pond Preserved_Specimen flowering Chung, D. 22987 Oahu BISH 1996-07-01
29 Ruppia maritima Kahuku shoreline, in waterway drainage adjacent to Kii Pond Growing in sandy substrate at mouth of waterway where freshwater and saltwater intermix. Preserved_Specimen Submerged aquatic forming dense, tangled mats. Imada, C. 20023 Oahu BISH 2002-03-23
30 Ruppia maritima Honouliuli, about 2km S of USC and GS Magnetic Sta., Ewa Coral Plain In water of brackish pond, growing submerged on mud bottom. Preserved_Specimen Fosberg, F.R. 12813 Oahu BISH 1936-01-12
31 Ruppia maritima Mokuleia Brackish pond. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 12901 Oahu BISH 1940-09-15
32 Ruppia maritima Opaeula Pond, Makalawena, Kona Pond 100m from ocean. Preserved_Specimen Higashino, P.K. 9756 Hawaii BISH 1982-04-14
33 Ruppia maritima Kona Airfield, N end In cistern of brackish water, 4 1/2 ft below ground level. Preserved_Specimen Kondo, Y. Hawaii BISH 1951-08-26
34 Ruppia maritima Kailua Beach In brackish estuary, submerged. Preserved_Specimen Fosberg, F.R. 14038 Oahu BISH 1937-06-13
35 Ruppia maritima Hanapepe, ditch between Park and Refuse Transfer Station Pennisetum clandestinum and Rhizophora mange Preserved_Specimen submerged herb in 6-8 of water in clay over sand substrate forming patches 7 m x 2 m. Rhizomes white, leaves and stems bright green. Flynn, T.W. 6782 Kauai BISH 2001-03-05
36 Ruppia maritima Keomuku, near Brackish puddle. Preserved_Specimen Degener, O. 28591 Lanai BISH 1963-07-31
37 Ruppia maritima Koloa District, Lawai Valley. Allerton Garden, in vicinity of lotus pond on W side of Lawai Stream Forming dense colonies in fresh whater canal. Preserved_Specimen Submerged aquatic herb. Leaves and stems dull green. Lorence, D.H. 7462 Kauai BISH 1994-05-16
38 Ruppia maritima Heeia Fresh-water stream, near bridge. Preserved_Specimen Suehiro, A. Oahu BISH 1934-04-22
39 Ruppia maritima Anchialine pond along coast approx. 1/3 mile north from Kona Coast State Park Salinity of water was 4 ppt. Preserved_Specimen Englund, R. Hawaii BISH 2000-02-13
40 Ruppia maritima Halepalaoa landing In shallow closed estuary. Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 22647 Lanai BISH 1947-04-05
41 Ruppia maritima Mouth of Waimea River Preserved_Specimen St.John, H. 11113 Oahu BISH 1931-07-05
42 Ruppia maritima Halua Pond, Cape Kinau Preserved_Specimen LMH 718 Maui BISH
43 Ruppia maritima Halua Pond, Cape Kinau Preserved_Specimen LMH 718 Maui BISH
44 Ruppia maritima Pupoo [sp?] Fish Pond Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 587 Molokai BISH 1912-09-01
45 Ruppia maritima Hauula Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 2365 Oahu BISH 1916-06-01
46 Ruppia maritima Kau Distr., South Point, in anchialine pond of Lua o Palahemo, collected with anchialine shrimp Preserved_Specimen Englund, R. Hawaii BISH 2001-07-28
47 Ruppia maritima Hauula Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. 2365 Oahu BISH 1916-06-01
48 Ruppia maritima Maunalua fish pond. Aquatic Preserved_Specimen Hume, E.P. 191 Oahu BISH 1931-04-27
49 Ruppia maritima Halua Pond, Cape Kinau Preserved_Specimen LMH 718 Maui BISH
50 Ruppia maritima Waikiki, Hilton Hawaiian Village Lagoon Preserved_Specimen Spalding, H. 445 Oahu BISH 2016-08-27
51 Ruppia maritima Maui Preserved_Specimen Forbes, C.N. Maui BISH
52 Ruppia maritima Laie Preserved_Specimen Cooke Jr., C.M. Oahu BISH 1919-02-01
53 Ruppia maritima Kalapana Horse Pond, Kalapana Preserved_Specimen Doty, M.S. Hawaii BISH 1955-06-22
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