Perennial, dioecious, submerged herbs, growing in the sea. Rhizomes present, herbaceous and monopodial or woody and sympodial. Leaves alternate, distichous, with distinct lamina and sheathing base; sheath auriculate; lamina linear, flat or needle-like; ligule present. Flowers enclosed by leaf-like bracts, usually solitary, sometimes in cymes (Syringodium); perianth 0. Male flowers consisting of 2 stamens borne on a filament. Female flowers consisting of two 1-ovulate carpels. Fruit indehiscent. Worldwide: 16 species in 5 genera, mainly in tropical or subtropical waters, less often in temperate seas. Mozambique: 4 genera and 6 taxa. |
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