"Seagrasses: Biology, Ecology and Conservation" is an extensive volume authored by Anthony W.D. Larkum, Robert J. Orth and Carlos M. Duarte.
Since many of my reviews of scientific reference works are somewhat flippant,
perhaps I should point out that I find this book seriously fascinating when
leafing through it, although I admit it's just too technical and
"academic" for a general reader like myself.
I always assumed that seagrasses were algae, and didn't think much further of
them. In reality, they are "real" plants (angiosperms or
"flowering plants" to be exact). The seagrasses are not a specific
taxonomic group, however, but an ecological group. They belong to several
different families, all within the superorder Alismatiflorae.
This book contains lengthy, scientific treatments of all aspects of seagrasses:
taxonomy, biogeography, evolution, conservation, morphology, etc. A section on
seagrasses and fisheries is included. The text is heavy and suited for
specialists only. (Imagine being a specialist on seagrasses!) Still, I give it
four stars. I suspect "Seagrasses" is the "bible" for
botanists at sea...
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