Cladus: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Divisio: Magnoliophyta
Classis: Liliopsida
Subclassis: Alismatidae
Ordo: Alismatales
Familia: Potamogetonaceae
Genus: Lepilaena
Species: L. australis - L. bilocularis - L. cylindrocarpa - L. marina - L. patentifolia - L. preissii

Lepilaena is a genus of aquatic and marine flowering plant comprising 6 or more species endemic[2][3] to coastal and brackish or akaline inland waters of temperate Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand.[4][2]

The species are appended with common names that derive from their description as water-mats; for example, L. australis is referred to as Austral water-mat and L. marina as Sea water-mat.

Interpretation of molecular evidence for this poorly studied genus suggests a close affinity with Zannichellia, another genus of aquatic plants.[4] Two species are noted for their occurrence in marine environs, L. cylindrocarpa and L. marina, in estuaries and tidal flats.[4] L. cylindrocarpa is also found in a variety of brackish inland waters of mainland Australia.[5] Other species may be found in habitats of fresh to brackish, still or slowly moving, coastal or inland waters.

Species

The species currently recognised include:

* Lepilaena australis (type species, aquatic)
* Lepilaena bilocularis (aquatic)
* Lepilaena cylindrocarpa (brackish water,[5] marine[4])
* Lepilaena marina (marine[4])
* Lepilaena patentifolia (aquatic)
* Lepilaena preissii (aquatic)

References

* "Lepilaena Harv.". FloraBase. Department of Environment and Conservation, Government of Western Australia. http://florabase.dec.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/20926.
* Guiry, M.D.; Guiry, G.M. (2008). "Lepilaena". AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org/search/genus/detail/?genus_id=44018. Retrieved 2009-02-21.

1. ^ Hooker's J. Bot. Kew Gard. Misc. 7: 57. 1855 IPNI
2. ^ a b Hammer, Ulrich Theodore (1986). Saline Lake Ecosystems of the World. Springer London, Limited.
3. ^ Klaus Kubitzki, ed (1998). Flowering Plants. Monocotyledons: Alismatanae and Commelinanae (except Gramineae) (The Families and Genera of Vascular Plants). Springer. p. 472.
4. ^ a b c d e Larkum, Anthony W.D.; Duarte, Carlos; Orth, Robert J., eds (2005). "Taxonomy and biogeorgraphy of seagrasses". Seagrasses: Biology, Ecology and Conservation. Springer-Verlag New York, LLC.
5. ^ a b "Lepilaena cylindrocarpa (Muell.Stuttg.)". FloraBase. Department of Environment and Conservation, Government of Western Australia. http://florabase.dec.wa.gov.au/browse/profile/120.