Once upon a time, the Minecraft ocean was barren. However, the developers decided to enhance its liveliness by introducing fish, various marine creatures, coral reefs, and even icebergs. In my opinion, their best decision was to incorporate seagrass. This will be our item of the week!
What do I find remarkable about this seagrass? Let me explain. It has numerous advantages; first, it is incredibly beautiful—just look at how peacefully it sways in the ocean waters! Secondly, seagrass is quite resilient and can thrive in almost any part of the ocean, even in places where it seems impossible. The only exception is that seagrass does not grow in frozen oceans, which is understandable. Lastly, seagrass is a renewable plant, and even in the unpredictable waters of Minecraft, where anything can happen, it establishes itself well.
Throughout the history of Minecraft Bedrock, seagrass has been mentioned several times but was finally added to the game in version 1.13. You can find it in all underwater biomes, with both tall and short varieties available. When harvested with shears, the short variety drops one seaweed, while the tall variety yields two. Be careful not to break it without reason, or it will turn into nothing in your hands.
Did you know? Seagrass is a favorite food of turtles. It can be utilized for their breeding, promoting the growth of young turtles, and if you’ve fed a turtle seagrass, it will drop 0-2 pieces of seaweed upon death. If you possess looting enchantments, you’ll receive an even greater amount. What should you do if you need a lot of seagrass but prefer not to harm the turtles? No worries! Simply use bone meal as fertilizer for the seagrass, and after some time, you’ll find yourself swimming not in the ocean, but among the seagrass.
In the real world, seagrass grows similarly to how it does in Minecraft Pocket Edition. It thrives in large underwater areas and coastal regions around the globe. There are 60 different species of seagrass, all of which evolved from terrestrial plants that migrated back to the ocean approximately 100 million years ago.
While people often discuss the importance of coral reefs, they frequently overlook marine algae. These underwater plants are home to hundreds of different species, including fish, worms, turtles, manatees, sharks, and crabs. Additionally, sea vegetation helps slow down water movement, allowing sand and other particles suspended in the water to settle on the bottom, resulting in clearer waters.
Humans have also found uses for seagrasses. Historically, they were utilized as fertilizers for sandy soils, and during World War I, French soldiers used them to stuff mattresses, which became quite popular. Recent studies indicate that algae can eliminate harmful bacteria from water. Moreover, they absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Even marine plants contribute to the fight for clean air on our planet!
