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Ditchgrass family
Ruppiaceae
ใใในใข็ง
A monotypic family (1 genus) specialized in brackish water environments. Ruppia maritima is native to Japan, found in sheltered bays, brackish lakes, and salt marshes. Highly salt-tolerant, adapted to environments inhospitable to most angiosperms.
Key Characteristics
- โSubmerged plants growing in brackish to saline waters
- โThin filiform leaves
- โFlowers extremely reduced (lacking perianth)
- โWater-pollinated
Morphological Traits
A family may include species with different trait values โ multiple values indicate the range within the family.
Leaf arrangement
Alternate / Opposite / Whorled
Leaf type
Simple
Venation
Pinnate
Leaf margin
Serrate / Entire
Growth form
Herb
Evergreen/Deciduous
Deciduous
Leaf dissection
Undivided
Stipules
Absent
Flower symmetry
Actinomorphic
Petal fusion
Free
Ovary position
Superior
Plant sex
Hermaphrodite
Phylogenetic Position
Angiosperms > Monocots > Alismatales > Ruppiaceae
Divergence Era
Paleogene (ca. 50 Ma onwards)
Representative Genera
Related Evolution Events
- ใปSpecialization to extreme saline environments in brackish and salt waters
- ใปExtreme simplification of floral parts and evolution of water pollination
Plants in Ditchgrass family on this site
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