LESSON VIII.


SEA-WEEDS AND SEA-GRASS

We think of weeds as useless plants which insist on growing just where
they are not wanted. So it is a pity that _Sea-weeds_ are so named, for
the part they play in the sea is a useful one; and they are often
beautiful, though they do not bear flowers like so many plants of the
land. You see draggled heaps of them, lying on the shore where the waves
have thrown them. They are best seen in their proper home, buoyed up by
the water, and spreading out their broad coloured fronds, or long waving
threads. There are, in many places, meadows of Sea-grass, and forests of
Sea-weed! Mother Earth still has her carpet of green, even when covered
by the salt water. The plants are very unlike those of the land, but, as
you will see, they are of great use. We will suppose you put on a diving
dress. Then you can walk out, under the water, and explore the forests
of the sea.

Down by the line of low tide, before you have waded up to your knees,
you find plants clinging to the rocks. They cover them with a slippery
coat of green; when you turn these Sea-weeds over you find periwinkles
and other animals feeding or hiding. Sea-weed makes good "cover" for the
creatures of the rock-pools, who have many enemies to fear.

You notice that most of these shore weeds are green, sometimes as green
as young grass. Pull up a bunch of the weed, and you find that it clings
to the rocks and stones, but has no real roots. Seaweeds belong to a
humble family in the world of plants, having no real roots, no flowers,
and no real seeds. They can attach themselves to the stones or rocks.