Description: Submerged marine rhizomatous perennials; rhizomes usually with numerous circular leaf scars; stems short, erect, bearing 1–4 leaves.
Leaves distichous; blade narrow-linear, 3-veined, the midrib conspicuous and widened or forked at the apex, the 2 lateral veins inconspicuous and each usually ending in a small tooth; sheath ligulate, persistent.
Flowers solitary and terminal, enclosed by a leaf sheath; perianth absent. Male flowers pedunculate; anthers 2, basally fused. Female flowers subsessile; carpels 2; styles 2, long.
Fruit globose, ± compressed, with a beak, not viviparous.
Distribution and occurrence: World: 6 species, Indian & Pacific Oceans. Australia: 2 species (native), Qld, N.S.W., N.T., W.A.
Text by S. W. L. Jacobs Taxon concept:
One species in NSW: Halodule uninervis |
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