Is it seagrass?

There is a lot of literature about seagrasses being used to produce furniture, rope, woven baskets, matting and even shoes, but is it actually seagrass?

  • Seagrass meadow, Greece
  • Photographer: Dimitris Poursanidis
Get Started

WATER REEDS​

Although there is a lot of literature about seagrasses being used to produce furniture, rope, woven baskets, matting and even shoes, unfortunately from what we understand this information is predominately misleading.

In fact, the plants used for these and other crafts are generally freshwater and brackish water reeds which are abundant in China and SE Asia. These are not taxonomically classed as seagrasses, and don’t belong in the Families of true seagrasses (https://www.seagrasswatch.org/idseagrass/).

In general, the leaves and rhizomes of most true seagrasses do not have high lignin contents, and are therefore not fibrous or sturdy enough to make woven products (the exceptions are a couple of species which do not occur in China).

The brackish and freshwater reed Phragmites found in large natural stands in coastal and inland China (known as China Sea Grass), is harvested and twisted together to make a type of rope which is woven into mats and furniture.

  • Phragmites australis reeds
  • Photographer: J-E Nyström

A species of Cyperus reed in South East Asia, is also used for weaving into a range of products, including mats, shoes, baskets, etc.

Some seagrass furniture is actually water hyacinth, a noxious weed in freshwaters of some countries.

 

  • Cyperus papyrus
  • Photographer: Stuart Forster (GO.Eat.Do)

Hogla (Typha elephantina) has been used to make “seagrass coffins” in Bangladesh.

Much of the confusion is a consequence of the overuse of common names, where even in Florida (USA), coastal dune grasses is often referred to as “seagrass”.

  • Typha Elephantina with Water hyacinth
  • Photographer: www.floraofbangladesh.com

COMMON MISCONCEPTION

The misconception has been long held, and would be very difficult to correct.

The term “seagrass matting” has continued to be attractive across marketing and consumer sectors worldwide.

Some marketing sites go as far as ascribing true seagrasses as the source product in seagrass matting which further complicates the situation.

Unfortunately, we have no indication regarding whether the collection of these freshwater grasses/reeds or dune grasses is sustainable, but it is most unlikely they are using true seagrasses.

  • Posidonia oceanica Seagrass
  • Photographer: Dimitris Poursanidis