Scientific Name: Ruppia tuberosa

Common Name: tuberous seatassel

Family Classification (Clade): Monocots

Family: Ruppiaceae

Threatened Species Status: Rare

Permit: It is an offence to collect, disturb, damage or destroy this species unless under permit.

Form Description: Submerged slender aquatic herb, perennial, with stems up to 2cm long and thread-like leaves.

Flowers: Two small flowers in terminal spikes. Flowering stalk up to 30cm long, regularly shorter where plants are exposed at low tides.

Fruit: Achene – 2mm long; turn black when mature.

Municipality
No data available for this species
Plant Communities
No data available for this species
Habitat Notes

Holes and channels in saltmarshes, Ralphs Bay and Blackman Bay, east coast.

General Notes

Aquatic annual plant. Commonly produces turions, fleshy storage organs which overwinter and then start growth in the spring.

Propagation Calendar

  • Flowering Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • Seed Collecting Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • Sowing Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
  • Cutting Month
    Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Propagation Method
Impractical Propagation material is too difficult to collect or conditions for propagation or cultivation are too specialized.

Seed Information

Seed Collection

Pollination occurs on or below the water surface. Not easily grown from seed.

Seed Treatment Method

Bog Method The seeds of many wetland species need to be kept wet to germinate. Punch a hole in the side of a recycled polyfoam box so that it holds water to the required depth. Sit the tubes in the box to germinate. Once germinated, punch holes in the bottom of the box to allow drainage.

Seed Treatment Notes

Sow in shallow water using the bog method.

Cutting & Division Information

Can be propagated easily by division of rhizomes.