Zostera marina L.

Locations ofZostera marina L. in Virginia

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Detail

Family
Zosteraceae
Botanical Name
Zostera marina L.
Common Name
Eelgrass, Sea-wrack
Synonym(s)
Zostera marina L. var. stenophylla Asch. & Graebn.
Flora of Virginia Name/Status
Zostera marina L. var. stenophylla Asch. & Graebn.
Comments
We follow FNA in not recognizing infraspecific taxa. The considerable variation in Zostera marina has been shown to be due to genetics, environmental factors, and a combination of the two (see Backman (1991 - Can. J. Bot.)), with only 14% due to genetics. While that study was on the West Coast, its results are undoubtedly representative.
Habitat
Mesohaline and polyhaline tidal aquatic beds of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. Infrequent in the outer s. and c. Coastal Plain but often abundant where found.
Native Status
Native

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