It looks like researchers have discovered the world's largest plant – seagrass meadow off the Western coast
The project began with the fact that scientists from the UniversityWestern Australia and Flinders University set out to study the genetic diversity of seagrass meadows in the Shark Bay area. The team took shoot samples from across the region, then examined 18,000 genetic markers to create plant profiles.
“The response stunned us – there was only one!”– says Jane Edgelow, lead author of the study. "This 200 km2 seagrass meadow appears to have grown from a single colonizing seedling."
In any case, the giant sea meadow has other advantages. A group of researchers have calculated that its age is at least 4,500 years.
“Polyploid plants often live in areas withextreme environmental conditions, are often sterile, but can continue to grow if left undisturbed, and this giant seagrass did just that,” – said Dr. Elizabeth Sinclair, senior author of the study.