Ruppia cirrhosa | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Order: | Alismatales |
Family: | Ruppiaceae |
Genus: | Ruppia |
Species: | R. cirrhosa
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Binomial name | |
Ruppia cirrhosa |
Ruppia cirrhosa is a species of aquatic plant known by the common names spiral ditchgrass [1] and spiral tasselweed. [2] It is native to the Americas and Europe, where it grows in freshwater bodies, such as lakes. It is a thread-thin, grasslike perennial herb which grows from a rhizome anchored in the wet substrate. It produces a long, narrow inflorescence tipped with two tiny flowers. As the fruit develops the peduncle of the inflorescence curls into a neat spiral.
A lectotype for this name is designated and the name is shown to be a homotypic synonym of R. maritima. [3] Consequently, R. spiralis has nomenclatural priority over R. cirrhosa for the long- and coiled-pedunculate Ruppia.