Batis maritima #
Shrub,
low, bushy, maritime, dioecious or monoecious.
Leaves opposite, simple, narrow, fleshy; stipules minute.
Inflorescence a spike, cone-like, small, axillary, +/- sessile; stipules
minute. Flowers unisexual.
Staminate flowers 8-12, initially enclosed in a sac-like organ which may
be sepals or a pair of bractlets, splitting with age; perianth parts 4,
alternate stamens; stamens 4, anthers opening by longitudinal slits.
Pistillate flower 4-12, not enclosed; perianth 0; ovary superior, fleshy,
chambers 4, ovule 1 per chamber, stigmas 2, head-like, sessile.
Fruit drupe-like, water dispersed. Seeds
1-4, hard walled. One genus, 2
species. Batis arguillicola of New Guinea and northeast Australia is
monoecious. Hickman, Ed. 362.
A single genus of warmer parts of the world. One species in the genus. (Munz, Flora So. Calif. 242).
Upper Newport Bay species within the family: