Image: Shutterstock
About This Quiz
Aquatic plants can be found in just about any body of water, no matter how large or small they are, as long as conditions for life are present. There are two kinds- saltwater and freshwater- but we're choosing to focus on the former today. These plants include seagrasses, seaweeds, corals, and all kinds of algae. Do you know enough about the life that thrives in the ocean to name all the marine plants from just one picture?
The ocean is filled with plants of all shapes and sizes. Some are so small that they can't be seen with the naked eye. From microscopic to macroscopic, marine life lives in any body of saltwater on the planet. Some plants grow as low as astroturf, while others are several feet long and can stretch from the ocean's depths to its surface. Do you know your plants enough to survive this quiz? Or will the ocean sweep you further away with every wrong answer you get?
If you're a marine biologist in training, an actual marine biologist, or you just love all things sea and saltwater, take this quiz to see how well you'd do identifying the plants we've gathered. Have a seat and let's get started!
Wiki Commons By Ed Bierman
Which plant is this?
Alder
Bamboo
Red algae
This species of algae is one of the oldest colonies of eukaryotic algae with a mere 5 percent occurring in freshwater environments, while a larger concentration exists in warmer areas.
Yarrow
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Wiki Commons By Panek
Which plant is this?
Phytoplankton
These self-feeding components of the plankton community, derived from the Greek word meaning "drifter," are an essential part of freshwater basin ecosystems, seas and oceans.
Palm tree
Ficus
Rose
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Wikimedia Commons By Harold Hudson
Which plant is this?
Ash
Pillar coral
Pillar coral is a hard coral that can be found in the Caribbean Sea and the western Atlantic Ocean. It grows in vertical cylindrical columns from the sea floor.
Viper's grass
Bay laurel
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Wiki Commons By Daiju Azuma
Which plant is this?
Azolla
Wintercress
Tulip
Waterwheel
The waterwheel is one of the few plant species with capabilities of rapid movement. It uses traps to capture small aquatic invertebrates.
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Public domain Wikimedia Commons
Which plant is this?
Zebrawood
Red sea whip
This forms a resting place for amphipods, barnacles, and an oyster species. It is widely found in tidal creeks, rocky coastal areas, and silt bottoms in the warm regions of the Atlantic Ocean.
Sycamore
Poppy
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Wikimedia Commons By Laminariasetchellii.jpg:
Which plant is this?
Olive
Nightshade
Laminaria
It is frequently referred to as "kelp" and is characterized by its relatively large size and extended, leathery layers.
Lilac
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Wikimedia Commons By Derek Keats from Johannesburg, South Africa
Which plant is this?
Inkberry
Juneberry
Alaria
These extremely adjustable algae exist in approximately seventeen species and are dried and eaten in South America, Western Europe, and Asian countries.
Holly
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Wikimedia Commons By Onislandtimes
Which plant is this?
Yarrow
Knotweed
Rosemary
Staghorn coral
This stony coral has cylindrical branches, exhibiting the fastest growth of western Atlantic fringe corals. It is one of the most important Caribbean corals.
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Wikimedia Commons By Nhobgood Nick Hobgood
Which plant is this?
Sea pen
Sea pens resemble both feathers and -- as their name suggests -- writing pens. They exist both as individuals and in colonies. They are dominant in tropical and temperate waters worldwide.
Alder
Tulip
Mulberry
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Wikimedia Commons By Jerry Kirkhart from Los Osos, Calif.
Which plant is this?
Feather boa kelp
This dark brown kelp grows over five meters in length and is native to the western North American coastline from Alaska to Baja, California.
Azolla
Ash
Bamboo
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Wikimedia Commons By makelessnoise
Which plant is this?
Viper's grass
Fire algae
The fire algae are also common in freshwater habitats with populations distributed based on temperature, saltiness, or water depth.
Sycamore
Zebrawood
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Wikimedia Commons By Derek Keats from Johannesburg, South Africa
Which plant is this?
Poppy
Coralline algae
They are usually pink, or other shades of red and play a crucial role in the ecology of coral reefs, nourishing sea urchins, parrot fish, and some types of mollusks.
Bay laurel
Olive
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Wikimedia Commons By Ria Tan
Which plant is this?
Alaria
Enhalus seagrass
The Enhalus seagrass is predominant in coastal waters of the Indian and Western Pacific Oceans and is a marine flowering plant.
Coral
Waterwheel
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Wiki commons By Aaron from Washington
Which plant is this?
Black coral
These groups of deep water, tree-like corals are typically found in the tropics. They receive their name from the distinguishing black or dark brown color of their skeleton.
Lilac
Wintercress
Nightshade
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Wiki commons
Which plant is this?
Flax
Thongweed
The thong weed is also referred to as the sea thong and sea spaghetti. It grows rapidly and has a lifespan of three years.
Juneberry
Holly
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Wikimedia Commons By Pascale Guinchard
Which plant is this?
Bamboo
Knotweed
Tape grass
These aquatic herbs are endemic in tropical waters worldwide and grow entirely submerged in brackish and fresh water.
Dogwood
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Wikimedia Commons By Leslie Seaton from Seattle, WA, USA
Which plant is this?
Alder
Ash
Yarrow
Oarweed
The oarweed, also referred to as tangle weed, is a dark brown seaweed that grows up to three meters in length. It can be found in areas in the northern Atlantic Ocean.
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Wikimedia Commons By Chaloklum Diving
Which plant is this?
Zebrawood
Soft coral
These corals flourish in nutrient-dense waters with minimal light and are crucial members of the reef ecosystem, providing a habitat for fish and other marine species.
Rosemary
Olive
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Wikimedia Commons By James St. John
Which plant is this?
Turtle grass
The turtle grass is typically located in areas sheltered from immense wave action, such sandy locations of the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, because they require a moderate depth of sediment .
Azolla
Tulip
Elder
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Wiki commons
Which plant is this?
Inkberry
Grapevine
Mulberry
Sickle leaved cymodocea
This seagrass has red or red striped leaves and is vulnerable to extreme grazing by sea urchins; it has a wide distribution throughout the Indo-Pacific area.
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Wikimedia Commons By Pierre-Louis Crouan
Which plant is this?
Wintercress
Bay laurel
Winged kelp
The winged kelp is an appetizing seaweed, serving as traditional cuisine along the north Atlantic and grows up to 2 meters in length.
Viper's grass
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Wikimedia Commons By Jmk777
Which plant is this?
Bamboo
Sycamore
Open brain coral
The name for this coral derived from its similarity to an animal's brain. They are located in shallow, warm-water coral reefs in the oceans worldwide.
Poppy
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Wikimedia Commons By James St. John
Which plant is this?
Manatee seagrass
This is the second most widespread seagrass in Floridian waters. It also exists in the Gulf of Mexico and the tropical waters of the Caribbean- being the preferred food of manatees.
Nightshade
Holly
Yarrow
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Wikimedia Commons By Alice Wiegand
Which plant is this?
Alder
Kombu
This kelp is extensively eaten in East Asia and used to season rice for making sushi in Japanese cuisines. It is also infused with hot water to make tea.
Zebrawood
Lilac
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Wikimedia Commons By Jerry Kirkhart from Los Osos, Calif.
Which plant is this?
Knotweed
Flax
Ash
Asian surfgrass
Asian surf grass survives immersed in the waters of the Yellow Sea and the Sea of Japan, exclusively growing on rocky substrate, contributing to ocean productivity.
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Wikimedia Commons By Minette Layne from Seattle, Washington
Which plant is this?
Olive
Rosemary
Eelgrass
Marine eelgrass is long and vibrantly green in color with flowers enclosed in the sheaths of their ribbon-like leaves.
Mulberry
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Wikimedia Commons By ãããã¨ã¼
Which plant is this?
Open brain coral
Wakame
This edible seaweed and sea vegetable is grown in Japan by sea farmers and is usually served in salads and soups.
Winged kelp
Turtle grass
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Wikimedia Commons Michael Gäbler
Which plant is this?
Inkberry
Tulip
Juneberry
Dead man's fingers
It is also commonly known as Green Sea Fingers or Oyster Thief and is prevalent in countries in the Pacific Ocean near Japan.
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Youtube
Which plant is this?
Giant kelp
Giant kelp is an alga that is harvested as a source of algin and is used as a binding agent in ice cream.
Bay laurel
Wintercress
Viper's grass
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Wikimedia Commons By Damián H. Zanette
Which plant is this?
Diatoms
These food chain producers are unicellular and form one the most popular types of phytoplankton.
Sycamore
Bamboo
Grapevine
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By Matt Lavin from Bozeman, Montana, USA via Wikimedia Commons
Which plant is this?
Zebrawood
Poppy
Azolla
Salt grass
This tremendously salt-tolerant grass is located in areas with salt flats and is native to the Americas. It grows up to half a meter in height.
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Youtube
Which plant is this?
Sea kelp
Diatoms
Halimeda
The Halimeda consists of calcified green segments which makes it inedible. It acts as a deterrent to most herbivores.
Salt grass
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Youtube
Which plant is this?
Alder
Sea lettuce
The sea lettuce is a source of food for a variety of sea animals, including sea hares.
Nightshade
Yarrow
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Youtube
Which plant is this?
Bull kelp
The bull kelp is a vital part of the kelp forest and prefers semi-exposed environments or high-current regions, growing to a maximum height of 118 feet.
Olive
Mulberry
Holly
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By Robert Steers, via Wikimedia Commons
Which plant is this?
Inkberry
Bay laurel
Juneberry
American dune grass
American dune grass grows in coastal habitats, specifically on dunes, and is native to the northern parts of North America, as well as parts of Asia.
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youtube
Which plant is this?
Irish moss
This moss varies from red and greenish-yellow to dark purple and exists in abundance along the rock-strewn Atlantic coasts of Europe and North America.
Tulip
Olive
Wintercress
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By Maša Sinreih in Valentina Vivod via Wikimedia Commons
Which plant is this?
Potatoes
Giant kelp
Hijiki
This brown sea vegetable has existed in Japanese diets for what seems like eons and grows wildly on stony coastlines.
Seagrass
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By Laurent.Breillat via Wikimedia Commons
Which plant is this?
Kombu
Wakame
Laver
This is an edible seaweed which normally grows on exposed shores, but is also known to be cultivated in Japan.
Manatee seagrass
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Which plant is this?
Azolla
Bamboo
Zebrawood
Seagrass
Seagrasses are marine flowering plants with extended narrow leaves and form extensive meadows. Although seagrasses and seaweeds look similar, they are very different organisms.
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Youtube
Which plant is this?
Ash
Sycamore
Acid seaweed
As its name suggests, this seaweed contains a pocket of sulphuric acid in each cell which helps deter grazing fish.
Yarrow
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By Maša Sinreih in Valentina Vivod via Wikimedia Commons
Which plant is this?
Oarweed
Arame sea oak
The Arame sea oak is a species of kelp which is rich in calcium and is frequently used in Asian cuisine because of its subtle sweetish mild flavor.
Tape grass
Winged kelp
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Wiki commons
Which plant is this?
Poseidonia
This asexual seagrass received its name from Poseidon, god of the sea in Greek mythology.
Viper's grass
Poppy
Nightshade
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Youtube
Which plant is this?
Bay laurel
Dulse
This red alga grows on the northern coastal areas of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans and is frequently eaten as a snack.
Knotweed
Alder
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Youtube
Which plant is this?
Lilac
Blue coral
Blue corals are able to shed a layer of their skin in order to keep algae and bacteria build-up to a minimum.
Olive
Mulberry
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By Anders Poulsen, Deep Blue via Wikimedia Commons
Which plant is this?
Antipathes
These corals exist in a range of different colors with tiny spikes on the surface of their skeleton.
Rosemary
Tulip
Poppy
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n/a
Which plant is this?
Wintercress
Zebrawood
Seaweed
Seaweed is packed with vitamins, minerals and is widely believed to harness nutritional benefits that fight illnesses.
Bamboo
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By Hans Hillewaert via Wikimedia Commons
Which plant is this?
Ash
Azolla
Shoal grass
Shoal grass is found along the southern Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico coasts and the Caribbean Sea, as well as other areas with deterring growth conditions for turtle and manatee seagrasses.
Alder
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You Got:
/47
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