Posidonia oceanica
Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile
Posidonia oceanica, or Mediterranean tapeweed, is a seagrass species endemic to the Mediterranean Sea. It forms extensive underwater meadows and plays a crucial role in the marine ecosystem. The plant produces free-floating fruits, known in Italy as 'the olive of the sea'. Fibrous balls formed from its foliage, called egagropili or Neptune balls, often wash up on nearby shores.
Description
Posidonia oceanica (L.) Delile is a member of the Posidoniaceae family and is native to the Mediterranean Sea. It is distributed across the Eastern Atlantic Ocean, Europe, Northern Asia (excluding China), and various surrounding regions such as Albania, Algeria, France, Greece, Italy, and Morocco. This seagrass is vital for coastal ecosystems, stabilizing sediments and providing habitat for marine life. Its seeds are buoyant and can travel long distances, contributing to the plant's dispersal. The fibrous material from its leaves forms Neptune balls, which are often found on Mediterranean beaches.
Distribution
Eastern Atlantic Ocean · Europe & Northern Asia (excluding China) · Global · conterminous 48 United States · Albania · Algeria · Baleares · Corse · Cyprus · East Aegean Is. · Egypt · France · Greece · Italy · Kriti · Libya · Morocco · Sardegna · Sicilia · Sinai · Spain · Tunisia · Turkey-in-Europe · Turkey · Yugoslavia
Synonyms
Aegle fragilisAlga oceanicaCaulinia oceanicaKernera oceanicaPosidonia cauliniTaenidium acuminatumTaenidium oceanicumZostera oceanica