NAIADACEZ. 61 
On sandy and muddy seashores, in bays and inlets, and at the 
mouths of rivers, near or below low water mark, rarely in brackish 
ditches. Common, and generally distributed. 
England, Scotland, Ireland. Perennial. Late Summer and 
Autumn. 
Rootstock creeping, slender, fleshy. Leaves alternate, sheathing, 
9 inches to 2 or 3 feet long, flat, parallel-sided, very obtuse, somewhat 
‘succulent, bright grass green, turning black in drying, and bleaching 
to pure white on the seashore. Spathe resembling the leaves, opening 
longitudinally down the front at the base. Peduncle, which is green 
at the apex only, enlarging until it passes gradually into the spathe. 
Spadix 14 to 3 inches long. Nuts yellow, oblong-ovoid, about | inch 
long, with numerous longitudinal ridges. 
Var f is intermediate in habit between var. a and Z. nana, but has 
no tangible characters by which it may be separated from var. a, as 
far as I can see. 
Tn var «, the leaves are } to } inch broad, and the peduncles rarely 
above 1} inch long to a spadix of 2 inches. In var. £, the leaves are 
from 4 to + or 4 inch broad; the peduncle is 14 inch long to a spadix 
of rather less than 1} inch, and is also more slender, especially towards 
the base. 
Common Grasswrack. 
French, Zostére marine. German, Gemeines Seegras. 
The grasswrack is found forming extensive submarine meadows in estuaries, the 
lower parts of tidal rivers, and muddy coasts, and likewise grows frequently in salt 
water ditches. It has a creeping stem, which runs along the surface of the mud, 
throwing out numerous roots and long grass-like leaves, in the sheathing bases of 
which are placed the stamen and pistil that constitute the flower in these curious 
plants. The leaves are very tough and flexible when dry, and are collected on many 
parts of our coast and the mouths of large rivers for a stuffing material for mattresses, 
cushions, &c., for which purpose they answer well for a time, but are not durable, 
and absorb moisture from the air. Large quantities are used in packing earthenware 
and china. The leaves have been applied medicinally to scrofulous tumours, but 
seem to have little effect, though they may contain a small portion of iodine, like sea- 
weeds. On some parts of the coast they are largely collected for manure, for which 
they are probably as valuable as the Fuci. On the coast of Ireland, where potash 
and alkaline salts are procured in large quantities by the burning of sea-weeds, this 
plant no doubt is often thrown into the furnace with them, and yields the same 
products. 
SPECIES U—ZOSTERA NANA. Both. 
Prats MCCCCXXXI. 
Reich. Ic. Fl. Germ. et Helv. Vol. VII. Tab. I. Fig. 2. 
Z. minor, ‘ Nollte.”’ Reich. 1. ¢. p. 2. 
Leaves narrowly linear, with 1 to 3 ribs, and numerous slender 
