Order: Alismatales
Family: Ruppiaceae
Ruppia maritima L.
Synonymy: Ruppia maritima var. brevirostris Agardh; R. maritima var. exigua Fernald & Wiegand; R. maritima var intermedia (Thedenius) Ascherson & Graebner; R. maritima var. longipes Hagström; R. maritima var. obliqua (Schur) Ascherson & Graebner; R. maritima var. rostrata Agardh; R. maritima var. subcapitata Fernald & Wiegand
Lower Taxa: none
Origin: Native
Habit: Perennial, submerged aquatic
Habitat: Estuarine waters of Atlantic Coast, extends inland to limit of brackish water
Range: Coastal Strip counties
Frequency: Locally common
Rank/Status: S4/G5
Wetland Status: OBL
Flowering & Reproduction: Spring to Autumn
Comments: Ditch grass or wigeon grass is one of two vascular aquatic plants that grow in New Jersey’s coastal waters. This plant is a narrow leaved, olive green colored plant that occupies salt marsh ponds, tidal guts and waterways inland as far as the Garden State Parkway (mesohaline waters ~10-20PPT sodium). The species is found along the entire eastern seaboard in association with eel grass, sea lettuce and other aquatic marine vascular and non-vascular species.
Reference Specimen: Mosquito ditch, Cedar Run, Ocean Co. J. Arsenault, B. Frasco, R.E. Good 7,11, 1979 CHRB132636.
Current distribution map reflects author, Chrysler herbarium specimens and Mary Hough, 1983.
JRA, 8/2013
