Eel Grass, Seawrack
Zostera marina
Family: Zosteraceae
What it is like
Zostera marina is a PERENNIAL growing to 1 m (3ft 3in). It is in flower from June to September, and the seeds ripen from August to October. The species is monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and is pollinated by Water. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils and can grow in saline soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It can grow in water.
Height (m): 1
Where it is found
Fine gravel, sand or mud in the sea from low water spring tides down to depths of 4 metres. It is rarely found in estuaries.
Europe, including Britain, from Norway south and east to the Mediterranean.
Conservation Status:
Countries/locations it is found in
How it is used
Food
Rating: 2
Leaves - raw or cooked. The leaf bases are crisp and sweet, they were often used as a feast food by the native North American Indians. Seed. No more details are given. The root of the plant is chewed for its saccharine juice. The root is crisp and sweet, it was used as a flavouring by the native North American Indians and was also dried for winter food. The raw rhizomes were often used as a feast food.
Root: includes bulbs, corms, tubers, rhizomes etc.
Seed: includes nuts, cereals, peas and beans.
Medicine
Rating: 1
The leaves are used in the treatment of dropsy, goitre and women's illnesses.
Women's complaints: A very vague title, it deals with a miscellany of problems peculiar to the female sex.
Other
Rating:
The dried leaves and stems are used as a packing material. The plant is frequently used as a manure.
Compost: Plants used for activating compost heaps, providing biomass for composting, using as instant compost etc.
Packing: Used as a filler in boxes etc in order to protect the contents.
How it is grown
A plant of shallow sea water, it is not really suitable for normal cultivation.
Propagating it: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe. Division.
Best place to grow: Pond;
Habit: Perennial
Hardiness: 0-0
Growth:
Soil: Light (sandy), medium
Shade: No shade
Moisture: Water