Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile

Spice Fruit detail Flower Fruit In the field Inflorescence

Family: POSIDONIACEAE

Genus: Posidonia

Catalan common name: Alga de vidriers. Altina.

Spanish common name: Alga de vidrieros.

Province distribution: Alacant. Balearic Islands. Barcelona. Castelló. Girona. Tarragona. València.

Distribution in the islands: Mallorca. Menorca. Ibiza. Formentera. Cabrera.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Mediterranean

IUCN Category: LCLeast concern

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Hydrophyte.

Habitats: Marine depths. Marine beds since 40 m of depth.

Characteristics: An aquatic plant that leaves rooted in the marine depths, up to 40 metres below, forming authentic prairies. It forms a net of rhizomes covered by fibres, which are very slow growing and are found beneath the marine sediment. From these rhizomes emerge sheaths of long leaves, up to 50 cm in length, with parallel margins and rounded apex. The leaves are often covered with small invertebrates and epiphytic algae. The flowers are hard to see, as they are made up of small spicules situated upon a large peduncle. When they fructify, the resulting berry resembles an olive, which can be found along the beach surf line, along with remnants of leaves, rhizomes and fibrous balls from this plant.