喜盐草 xi yan cao

Caulinia ovalis R. Brown, Prodr. 339. 1810; Halophila euphlebia Makino; H. hawaiiana Doty & B. C. Strong; Kernera ovalis (R. Brown) Schultes & J. H. Schultes.

Creeping stems elongated, internodes 1-5 cm; scales orbicular to obovate, keeled, 4-5.5 × 3-3.5 mm, membranous, transparent; lateral shoots scarcely developed. Leaves 1-paired at each node; petiole 1-4.5 cm; leaf blade transparent, oblong-elliptic or ovate, 1-4 × 0.5-2 cm, entire, with 12-16(-25) pairs of cross veins running from midvein to intramarginal veins and diverging from midvein at an angle of 45-60°. Male spathes broadly lanceolate, ca. 4 mm; perianth segments elliptic, ca. 4 mm. Female spathes broadly lanceolate, with a neck at apex, inner one enclosed within outer one; ovary slightly triangular; styles long, slender; stigmas 3, 2-3 cm. Fruit ellipsoid-globose, 3-4 mm in diam.; beak 4-5 mm. Seeds numerous, ca. 1 mm. Fl. Nov-Dec. 2n = 18.

Submerged in shallow seas. Guangdong, Hainan, Taiwan [India, Indonesia (Java), Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Guinea, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam; Africa, SW Asia, Australia; Red Sea to W Pacific Ocean].