Torrey's surfgrass facts for kids

Torrey's surfgrass, also known as Phyllospadix torreyi, is a special type of sea plant. It looks a lot like grass you might see on land. This plant lives along the Pacific Coasts of North America.

What is Torrey's Surfgrass?

Torrey's surfgrass is a plant that grows completely underwater or in areas covered by ocean tides. It is a type of seagrass, which are flowering plants that live in the sea. Unlike seaweed, which are algae, seagrasses have roots, stems, and leaves.

Where Does It Live?

You can find Torrey's surfgrass along the coasts of British Columbia in Canada, and in the United States in Washington, Oregon, and California. It also grows further south in Baja California and on Guadalupe Island in Mexico.

This plant likes to live in salt marshes. These are coastal wetlands that are often flooded by salty ocean water. It also thrives in the intertidal zone. This is the part of the seashore that is covered by the ocean at high tide and exposed to the air at low tide.

What Does It Look Like?

Torrey's surfgrass has long, thin leaves that can grow up to 60 centimeters (about 2 feet) long. Its leaves are smooth and do not have any teeth or锯齿 along their edges. This gives it a very grass-like appearance, which is why it's called "surfgrass."

Who Are Its Friends?

Torrey's surfgrass is very important to some other tiny living things. It is an "obligate host" to two types of epiphytes. An epiphyte is a plant that grows on another plant, but it doesn't take food or water from its host. Instead, it gets what it needs from the air and rain.

The two epiphytes that always grow on Torrey's surfgrass are called Melobesia mediocris and Smithora naiadum. "Obligate host" means these epiphytes *must* grow on Torrey's surfgrass to survive. It's like they have a special, unbreakable friendship!