Common Eelgrass
Scientific Name: Zostera marina
Category: plant
Brief Description
A marine flowering plant that grows in underwater meadows. This specimen is washed up on a rocky beach, showing its roots and ribbon-like leaves.
Characteristics
Long, green, ribbon-like leaves (3-10mm wide) with rounded tips. It features a thick underground rhizome and fine, thread-like roots.
Habitat
Found in soft-bottomed intertidal and subtidal zones of bays, inlets, and estuaries.
When to Find It
Perennial; however, blades frequently wash ashore in large quantities during fall and winter storms.
Conservation Status
N/A
Ecological Role
A foundation species that provides critical nursery habitat for salmon, herring, and Dungeness crab. It sequesters carbon and stabilizes shorelines.
Easily Confused With
Surfgrass (Phyllospadix), which grows on rocks in high-energy surf zones and has narrower, more wiry leaves.
Observation Tips
Look for it in the 'wrack line' (the line of debris left by high tide) on Washington beaches after a storm or during low tide near mudflats.
Interesting Facts
Unlike seaweed, which is algae, eelgrass is a true vascular plant with roots, flowers, and seeds. It is more closely related to lilies than to seaweeds.
User Notes
Washington state beach