https://natureinfocus.blog/2013/04/12/sea-palm-seaweed-on-the-oregon-coast/
“The Sea Palm seaweed, Postelsia palmaeformis, must be one of the hardiest around. It only lives in areas subjected to heavy surf in the mid- to lower intertidal zone.
It needs to be the very robust species that it undoubtedly is because it has to take a lot of pounding from the sea.
It stands like a miniature palm tree, attached to rocks clad with large California Mussels and the prehistoric-looking short-stalked Goose Barnacles. It gets flattened to the surface of the rock by every incoming crashing wave. Then, bounces back upright again as if made of rubber, immediately as the wave starts to ebb.” https://natureinfocus.blog/
Power of Sea Palms
I’ve been observing Sea Palms hanging on for dear life on the basalt cliffs for 16 years. Why I’m just getting around to learning about them is both embarrassing and surprising to me…
Sea Palms are mesmerizing and ghostly to me. How they are able to anchor their roots so strongly to the crannies in the basalt cliffs close to the ocean tides 24/7 seems impossible to me…
When stormy seas and King Tides keep Sea Palms dancing on the rocks, back ‘n forth endlessly, makes me wonder how this punishment is possible without them coming out.
It’s spooky to me to watch Sea Palms dance. I get hypnotized as these tiny seaweed creatures dance on the rocks…
I imagine holding on to them for dear life, like a tree branch or such. Imagining and dreaming is what my mind is doing when transfixed on Sea Palms…
Dancing and teasing the waves ‘n tides…
They seem to be alive and interacting with each other with the sea. The little trees seem to be dancing to a Bossa Nova beat. There’s a rhythm to this natural and graceful movement as the waves and tides crash on the rocks below the cliffs…
I want to dance too, when watching these little Palms of the sea swing, bend, bobble, fall flat, then bounce back up like a Cirque Du Soleil performance. How Mother Nature does this magic dance with Sea Palms on the stage, I can only imagine…
Imagine no more as of today. It was time to learn something new about the wonder of the sea…
“They germinate from spores that are formed in the narrow grooves along the blades of the mature specimens – the spores passing down the grooves and dripping off to the rocks beneath them.”
The roots anchor themselves to the crooks and crannies in the ancient lava beds, I know now. I can see how the little Sea Palms wrap roots around the edges of the rocks where they are stationed…
Sometimes Sea Palms show up on the Cove Beach, but rarely. I believe they get tangled up with the big bad Bull Kelp coming in at high tide after big storms. The Bulls are bullies, indeed…
I watch them now knowing so much more. I miss the mystery now, though. Some things are best to wonder and imagine, I believe too…
There are so many mysteries in the sea. I can tell others now about the Sea Palm dance. Still, I will miss the wonder of the ghostly nature of these rugged souls of the sea…
Children and Families in Life After Trauma
Reference link…Bull Kelp
