dwarf eelgrass; Japanese eelgrass
A species of seagrass (Nanozostera japonica) native to Japanese coastal waters.
Dwarf eelgrass is a type of seagrass that grows in shallow seas.
Katakana spelling is standard for this plant name; the kanji form 小甘藻 is rare.
Kanji spelling is seldom used; the word is usually written in kana.
The name likely derives from 小 (ko, 'small') + 甘藻 (amamo, 'eelgrass'), referring to its smaller size compared to common eelgrass. The exact origin is uncertain.