Submerged Aquatic Vegetation/ Eelgrass

COMMON NAME: Eelgrass

OTHER COMMON NAME(S): Seagrass, Wrack,

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Zostera marina

FAMILY: Zosteraceae

COMMUNITY: Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV)

STATUS: Native

LIFESPAN: Perennial

HEIGHT:

FLOWERING TIME: Late May to late July

FRUITING TIME:

DISTRIBUTION: Throughout the coastal plain coast strip and tidewaters in NJ

IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTICS: Ribbon-like leaves occurring singularly and alternately ~ tips of leaves are rounded ~ rhizomes ~ extensive roots

GENERAL INFORMATION: In the past Eelgrass was used for packing, upholstery stuffing and insulation.  Because of its high silicon content, Eelgrass is non-flammable.  When compressed and dried, it becomes loosely-matted with many air spaces giving it excellent insulation and sound proofing properties.  Radio City and Rockefeller Center in New York were built with this material.