Description: This is a green, grass-like, marine flowering plant that can form dense meadows in the correct conditions. The tips of the blades are smooth and rounded, and there are three conspicuous veins running along the blade. Zostera marina occurs subtidally, although may occasionally be exposed on a low spring tide, or, rarely, in pools. Eelgrass can reproduce asexually, spreading via rhizomes but can also flower and produce seeds.

Habitat: Shallow, sheltered areas not subject to a lot of wave action e.g. sheltered inlets and bays, down to around 10 m. Depth is dependent on light penetration/water turbidity. Usually prefers sand or muddy sand but has been recorded growing on mixed sediment amongst pebbles and cobbles.

Distribution: Recorded all around Britain and Ireland where there is suitable habitat.

Similar Species: Could potentially be confused with Zostera noltii but it is much more fine and usually intertidal. Zostera noltii also has a characteristic notch at the tip of its blade, whereas Zostera marina has a rounded tip.

Key Identification Features:

• Green, grass-like marine plant.
• Subtidal habitat preference.
• Rounded tips to blades.

Distribution Map from NBN: Zostera marina at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Zostera marina at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Zostera marina

WoRMS: Zostera marina at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Zostera marina Linnaeus, 1753. AphiaID: 495077.

Classification: Biota; Plantae; Viridiplantae; Streptophyta; Tracheophyta; Spermatophytina; Magnoliopsida; Lilianae; Alismatales; Zosteraceae; Zostera