x] CYMODOCEA 125 



botanist, Cavolini 1 , who described it in the case of Posidonia as 

 "lanae instar gossipinae." The cases which he records are those 

 of "Zostera oceanica"(= Posidonia Caulini, Kon.), "Phucagros- 

 tis major " (= Cymodocea aequorea^ Kon.), and " Phucagrostis 

 minor " (= Zostera nana, Roth). 



As a typical life-history of one of the marine Potamogeton- 

 aceae, that of Cymodocea aequorea, Kon. may be briefly outlined. 

 This plant was made the subject of a classic memoir by Bornet 2 , 



FIG. 84. Cymodocea aequorea, Kon. T.S. leaf near base of limb showing median 

 bundle; t, t, sieve tubes. (x22o.) [Sauvageau, C. 



from which the following account is derived. Cymodocea aequo- 

 rea (Fig. 83) is an herbaceous plant with a creeping stem, which 

 forms submarine meadows after the manner of Zostera marina. 

 It occurs in a number of localities in the Mediterranean, growing 

 on muddy sand, in shallow creeks which are not greatly ex- 

 posed to the shock of the waves. It is a perennial plant, which 

 is in full vegetation from May to October; during the other 

 months it is difficult to detect, for only a few short narrow leaves 

 1 Cavolini, F. (i 792*) and (i 792 2 ). 2 Bornet, E. (i 864). 



