black sea red data book - Department of Biology

Synonyms: None.
Zostera marina (Linnaeus, 1753)
Common names: Rom: Iarba de mare; Russ: Vzmornik morskoy.
Order HELOBIALES
Family POTAMOGETONACEAE
Taxonomic description. Creeping rhizome, more or less thickened. Floating linear
leaves, 60-150 cm long, 3-9 mm broad, rounded point, with 3-7 (9) nerves.
Multiflorous inflorescence, included in a sheath of 5-8 cm long. Flowers placed on a
foliaceous sympode. Peduncle more or less thickened under the leaf. Male flowers
next to the female flower, consisting of only one monocarpic ovary. Lanceolate fruit,
longitudinally grooved, 2-3.5 mm long, with a bifurcate beak.
IUCN Status
World level:
Black Sea Regional level:
Subregion level: VU
Distribution, Habitat type, Critical habitats, Limiting factors. Rocky and sandy
bottoms next to seashore and lakes. Sensitive to effects of water quality, and human
exploitation (by fisherman). General distribution: Europe, Middle East, China, Japan
and North America.
Biology. The detritus found amidst these plants constitutes an abundant source of
food for fish (especially grey mullet) and sea birds. The plant is also used as a
fertilizer and for reinforcing home-made bricks. The leaves (seagrass) are used for
filling pillows and mattresses, as well as for packing eggs, pieces of furniture and
other fragile objects.
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