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Green Seaweeds (phylum chlorophyta) Sea Lettuce (Ulva spp.) Look for: Bright green To 7" long, broad Flat, thin single blades Only 2 cells thick Often with ruffled edges Habitat: On rocks, mid- to low intertidal Abundance: Common, edible Sea Hair (Enteromorpha intestinalis) Look for: Bright green to yellowish-white Hollow tubes up to 8" long and 1/4" in diameter Only 1 cell thick Habitat: Dense mats on rocks or free floating clumps, upper intertidal Abundance: Common, edible Brown Seaweeds (phylum phaeophyta) Brown Bag (Colpomenia bullosa) Look for: Light brown Globular form up to 4" Smooth, dimpled, hollow sacs Habitat: On rocks and other algae , mid- to low intertidal Abundance: Common Rockweed (Fucus gardneri) Look for: Olive green to yellow-brown Blades to 1/2" wide Flattened, forked blades Some terminal branches swollen and warty Habitat: On rocks, mid- to low intertidal Abundance: Common Wireweed (Sargassum muticum) Look for: Yellowish-brown Flat, leaf-like growth Short stalk that branches repeatedly To 6-1/2' tall Habitat: Attaches to rocks or shells, low intertidal Abundance: Common, non-native, introduced from Japan Sugar Kelp (Laminaria saccharina) Look for: Olive to light brown Large single blades up to 10' May have regular undulations or be smooth Attaches to substrate with branched holdfast Habitat: On rocks, low intertidal and subtidal Abundance: Common Winged Kelp (Alaria spp.) Look for: Olive to light brown Blade varies in length from 12" to 8' (most around 6') Characteristic midrib along length Opposing rows of sporophylls along the stipe just below midrib forming "wings" Branched holdfast Habitat: On rocks, low intertidal and subtidal Abundance: Common Comments: A popular edible Both blade and midrib can be eaten fresh, dried or cooked Bull Kelp (Nereocystis luetkeana) Look for: A large kelp, can reach lengths of 98' Attaches to rocks with holdfast Holdfast supports a single, narrow, cylindrical stipe that gradually increases in diameter along its length A large hollow float (up to 5" in diameter) forms at end of stipe Two clusters of blades from float Habitat: Low intertidal and subtidal Abundance: Common Comments: Forms large kelp forests Incredibly fast-growin; reaches mature size in one season Edible, stipe can be made into pickles or salsa, blades can be dried Red Seaweeds (phylum rhodophyta) Turkish Towel (Chondracanthus exasperatus) Look for: Brownish-red to purple, iridescent when wet One or more broad thick blade Edges and flat surfaces can have stiff projections To 3' long, 12" wide Habitat: On rocks, sub-tidal, often washes up on shore Abundance: Common One of the more common red algae on the Pacific Coast Dead Man's Fingers (Halosaccion glandiforme) Look for: Yellowish-brown to deep red Erect sacs standing from to 2-8" tall, 3/4" wide Found in dense clusters, often in distinct bands When sacs are squeezed, a jet of sea water shoots up Habitat: On rocks, mid to low intertidal Comments: Often eaten by limpets, provides shelter to amphipods Red String Seaweed (Sarcodiotheca gaudichaudii) Look for: Yellowish-brown to deep red Attaches to rocks with holdfast Stringy round branches emerging from main stem or stipe Habitat: Common in summertime on rocks within sandy- mud habitats; low intertidal and subtidal Comments: Can be eaten fresh in salads Sea Grasses Eelgrass (Zostera) Zostera is represented locally by two species, Z. marina and Z. japonica. Look for: Dull green leaves flattened in cross-section Usually wider than 1/4", and up to 4' long Blades have 3-7 longitudinal veins Z. japonica has a narrower blade than Z. marina Perennial, overwintering as leafy shoots Habitat: Wave-protected areas, rooted in mud In Fishing Bay, Z. japonica dominates the inter-tidal region while Z. marina occupies the sub-tidal area Comments: Z. marina is a native species; Z. japonica represents an accidental introduction, perhaps being introduced as packing for Japanese oyster spat. Both species provide important habitat for a variety of organisms including fish and invertebrates. Eelgrass's tangled mat of rhizomes and roots stabilizes soft sea bottoms making it a valuable conservation plant. |  Ulva  Enteromorpha intestinalis  Colpomenia bullosa  Fucus gardneri  Sargassum muticum  Laminaria saccharina  Alaria  Nereocystis luetkeana  Chondracanthus exasperatus  Halosaccion glandiforme  Sarcodiotheca gaudichaudii  Zostera japonica  Zostera japonica providing habitat for a small limpet |