NAIADACE.^. Gl 



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, turnmg black in drying, and bleaching 

 to pure white on the seashore. Spathe resembling the leaves, openuig 

 longitudinally do^vn the front at the base. Peduncle, which is green 

 at the apex only, enlarging untd it passes gradually into the spathe. 

 Spadix Its to 3 inches long. Kuts yellow, oblong-ovoid, about -j- inch 

 long, with numerous longitudinal ridges. 



\av 3 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 

 lar as I can see. 



In var a, the leaves are ^ to f inch broad, and the peduncles rarely 

 above 1^ inch long to a spadix of 2 inches. In var. /3, the leaves are 

 from ^ to i or ^ inch bread ; the peduncle is 1-^ inch long to a spadix 

 of rather less than 1-J- inch, and is also more slender, especially towards 

 the base. 



Common Grasswrach. 



Frencli, Zostere 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, 

 tkrowing 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 cui-ious 

 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 pui-pose 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 eflect, 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 Fuel. 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 II.— Z OSTERA NANA. Eoih. 



Plate MCCCCXXXI. 



Eeich. Ic. Fl. Germ, et Helv. Vol. VII. Tab. II. Fig. 2. 

 Z. minor, " Nollte." Eeich. 1. c. p. 2. 



Leaves narrowly linear, with 1 to 3 ribs, and numerous slender 



