Nebraska Academy of Sciences
Distribution, Habitats, and Taxonomy of Ruppia maritima L. and R. occidentalis S. Watson in Nebraska
Date of this Version
1992
Abstract
Specimens of Ruppia from all eleven Nebraska counties in which it is known fall into two groups: R. occidentalis in alkaline Sandhills waters and R. maritima in saline waters of the Platte River Valley and Lancaster County. Ruppia occidentalis is distinguished by its more robust size; redspotted leaves and stems; terete, entire, obtuse leaves; 4-8(9) carpels; and by two elliptic white spots on its endocarp, among other characteristics. Ruppia maritima is more delicate and unspotted; the leaves are oblate in section, sub-apically denticulate, and acute-acuminate; the carpels are 3 or 4, and the endocarp spots are nearly circular. Both species grow in waters of low species-richness of submersed macrophytes; Potamogeton pectinatus often grows with them in Nebraska, and Chara sp., Myriophyllum sp., Utricularia vulgaris, and Zannichellia palustris are sometimes present. Water qualities of some lakes having Ruppia are summarized.
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Comments
1992. Transactions of the Nebraska Academy of Sciences, XIX: 67-74. Copyright © 1992, Kaul.