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(88) 喜鹽草
Halophila ovalis (R. Br.) Hook. f.
水鼈科 (Hydrocharitaceae)
英文名 (English name): Oval Halophila
Status in China: Least Concern (LC)
Description: Perennial herbs. Stems prostrate, internodes 1-5 cm long, ca. 1 mm diam., each nodes with 1 fine root and 2 scales. Leaves 2, arising from the scale axils, membranous, elliptic to ovate, 1-4 cm long and 0.5-2 cm wide, apex rounded or slightly acute, base rounded or cuneate, margin entire and wavy; veins 3, middle veins conspicuous, margin veins ca. 0.5 mm from the edge; petiole 1-4.5 cm long. Flowers unisexual, dioecious, solitary on spathe; male spathes broadly lanceolate, ca. 4 mm long; male flowers pediceled, tepals 3, elliptic, white, with black stripes, ca. 4 mm long, 2 mm wide; stamens 3, without filaments; female spathes broadly lanceolate, similar to a long neck flask, spirally twisted; female flowers without pedicels; ovary ovoid, 1-1.5 mm long. Capsules subglobose, 3-4 mm in diam, with a 4-5 mm long beak.
Distribution: Tai Tam Bay, Ho Chung, Hoi Ha Wan, Wu Shek Kok (Sha Tau Kok Sea), Lai Chi Wo, Tung Chung (San Tau), etc. Hainan, Guangdong, Taiwan. Red Sea, India Ocean, West Pacific Ocean.
Habitat and ecology: On shallow beaches. Flowering: Nov.-Dec.
This seagrass has special scientific value because it is one of the few marine flowering plants in Hong Kong. The locality at Lai Chi Wo is within Marine Park under protection. Moreover, the locality at San Tau has been listed as a SSSI.
References:
王徽勤、孫祥鍾，1992：中國植物誌 8：186，圖版 73：1-7。科學出版社，北京。
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