Haloragis is a genus of flowering plants in the family Haloragaceae. Some species are known commonly as seaberry and most are native to the southern hemisphere. They are annual or perennial herbs to small shrubs, and many are terrestrial wetland plants.
Taxonomy
List of selected species: Haloragis bibracteolata Haloragis capensis Haloragis depressa Haloragis erecta Haloragis hexandra Haloragis masatierrana Haloragis palauensis Haloragis prostrata Haloragis roei Haloragis yarrabensis
A number of species, previously placed here, have subsequently been placed in other related genera, including: Haloragis micrantha (Thunb.) R.Br. ex Sieb. & Zucc. (syn. Gonocarpus micranthus Thunb.)
Etymology
The name is derived from two Greek words, ἅλς - hals (sea or salt) and ῥάξ - rax (grape-berry). This refers to the first discovered species being found on beaches and having globular fruit.
Distribution and habitat
Of the 28 species, 23 are endemic to Australia and the remainder to the South Pacific (Tuvalu, New Caledonia, New Zealand, the Cook Islands, Rapa Nui and the Juan Fernandez Islands, e.g. H. prostrata (Cook Islands).
Cultivation
Some cultivars are valued as ornamentals, e.g. 'Wanganui Bronze', 'Wellington Bronze'.
