Zostera muelleri Irmisch ex Ascherson 1867

Publication Details
Zostera muelleri Irmisch ex Ascherson 1867: 168

Published in: Ascherson, P. (1868). Vorarbeiten zu einer Uebersicht der phanerogamen Meergewächse. Linnaea 35(1): 152-208.

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Publication date: 1868

Type Species
The type species (holotype) of the genus Zostera is Zostera marina Linnaeus.

Status of Name
This name is currently regarded as a synonym of Nanozostera muelleri (Irmisch ex Ascherson) Tomlinson & Posluszny.

Type Information
Lectotype locality: "Australia felix" [Melbourne at the mouth of the River Yarrra; Hartog 1970: 90]; (Robertson 1984: 118) Lectotype: F. von Mueller; November 1852; MEL; 3759 (Robertson 1984: 118) Notes: Robertson (1984: 118) notes that in November 1852, Mueller made many collections in the Port Phillip area including near the mouth of the River Yarra, which was part of “Australia felix” (area of grasslands and coastline from Melbourne westwards to Portland). It is this region that is assumed to be the type locality of Z. muelleri.

Origin of Species Name
Noun (singular possessive) (Latinised), honouring a person with the surname Müller.

General Environment
This is a marine species.

Created: 03 December 1999 by M.D. Guiry.

Last updated: 12 December 2023

Verification of Data
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Habitat note
Found in inlets and estuaries, on mud or sand in the intertidal region on calm water coasts, in lagoons separated by sandbars from the open sea and other land-locked waters only occasionally in direct contact with the sea (Robertson 1984). Robertson notes that there are two forms which cover the same geographic region but occupy different ecological niches: (a) Zostera muelleri senso stricto, found in inlets and sheltered bays, on sand or mud in the lower intertidal region on calm-water coasts, and normally emergent during low tide; (b) Z. muelleri estuarine form, usually just subtidal and rarely if ever emergent, frequently in estuarine localities, on the edge of channels or in lagoons and other land-locked water which are only rarely in contact with the open sea. - (25 June 2010) - G.M. Guiry

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Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 12 December 2023. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 01 April 2025