Zannichellia
palustris #
Submerged
aquatic monoecious or dioecious herbs with slender creeping rhizome.
Stems capillary, branched. Lvs.
alternate or opposite or crowded at nodes, linear, sheathing at base, the
sheaths usually ligulate. Fls.
minute, axillary, solitary or cymose. Perianth
of 3 small free scales or lacking. Stamens
3, 2, or 1; anthers 2, 1-celled, opening lengthwise, Carpels free, 1-9; style
short or long, simple or 2-4 lobed; stigma capitate, peltate or spatulate.
Fruiting carpels indehiscent, 1-seeded, sessile, stipitate.
Seed lacking endosperm.
About
6 genera, widely distributed, in fresh, brackish or salt water.
(Munz, Flora So. Calif. 1013).
Upper Newport Bay species within the family: