2o8 



ii.owj.Rs ()!■ rui-: ska-coast 



Grass Wrack (Zosicra niarina, 1,.) 



This is iiDl known in ('arly tlcpusits, ihnii^h /ffwAvv^-likc foliafje 

 occurs in estuarinc deposits, but it is found in plant beds in S. Sweden 

 in Gothland. To-day its distribution is around the .North Temperate 

 and Arctic coasts. in (ircai llrilain il is absent Ironi the coasi of 

 N. Devon, Cardigan, Merioneth, l)enbiL;h, Mint, Westmorland, Dum- 

 fries, Berwick, Aberdeen, 

 iianff, Mid Ebudes, but is 

 ^enc;rall} ilistributed else- 

 where, around the coast of 

 other maritime counties, as 

 iar north as the .Shetlands, 

 and in Ireland and the 

 Channel Islantls. 



i his is one of the few 

 marine, aquatic plants which 

 i^row in salt water at low- 

 water mark, antl the\' are 

 typical of the Hora of estu- 

 aries, and coasts which ex- 

 hibit numerous small bays 

 and inlets, especially on 

 sandy and muddy coasts. 



The habit is that of a 

 submerfjed, streaming- sea- 

 weed. The lea\-es are grass- 

 like, borne on flattened or 

 nearly round stems, and are 

 long, lance-shaped, wavv, 

 blunt, with 1-7 nerves, bright green, and entire. The first (ireek 

 name indicates their ribbon-like character. 



The flowers are green, enclosed in a spathe or sheath which is like 

 a hollow-ed-out leaf, on a long, stout flower -stalk, like the leaves, 

 enclosing a spadix with anthers and an ovary, in two series, opposite, 

 the ovary alternating w'ith the stamens, and stalkless. The capsule 

 contains i ribbed seed, and is furrowed, and the .seed milky-white. 

 The spadix is not banded and contains many flowers. The top of the 

 spathe e.xceeds the spadix. There is no extine in the pollen. 



("irass Wrack is i 3 ft. long. It flowers in August and September. 

 Grass Wrack is perennial and propagated by seeds. 



tlRAss Wr.vc'k [Ziisle 



