Seaweed descriptions and pictures
Here is a selection of about 120 common seaweeds from the north-eastern Atlanic, most of which occur in Norway, Britain, Ireland, Atlantic France and Spain, and Portugal. Web pages have so far been completed for those with links (underlined). Please bear with me while the descriptions and pictures are refined. It is also intended to provide a synoptic, interactive key later. Suggestions for additions and corrections to Michael Guiry. Where there is no common name in brackets, none exists.
Brown algae (Kelps, wracks, etc.)
- Alaria esculenta (Dabberlocks, Wing Kelp, Murlins)
- Ascophyllum nodosum (Asco, Sea Whistle, Bladderwrack)
- Bifurcaria bifurcata
- Carpomitra costata
- Cladostephus spongiosus
- Colpomenia peregrina (Oyster Thief)
- Cystoseira baccata
- Dictyopteris polypodioides
- Dictyota dichotoma
- Fucus serratus (Serrated Wrack)
- Fucus spiralis (Spiralled Wrack)
- Fucus vesiculosus (Bladderwrack)
- Himanthalia elongata (Thongweed, Buttonweed, Sea Sphagetti)
- Pelvetia canaliculata (Chanelled wrack)
- Laminaria hyperborea (Kelp, May Weed)
- Laminaria digitata (Kelp)
- Padina pavonia (Peacock's Tail)
- Petalonia fascia
- Saccharina latissima (Sugar Kelp; formerly Laminaria saccharina)
- Saccorhiza polyschides (Furbelows, Sea Hedgehog, Kelp)
- Sargassum muticum (Japweed, an alien species in Europe)
- Scytosiphon lomentaria
- Undaria pinantifida (Wakame)
- Taonia atomaria
Red algae (Dulse, Carrageen Moss, etc.)
- Acrosorium ciliolatum
- Aglaothamnion sepositum
- Ahnfeltia plicata (Landlady's wig)
- Apoglossum ruscifolium
- Asparagopsis armata (Harpoon weed, an alien species in Europe)
- Bangia fuscopurpurea
- Bonnemaisonia asparagoides (Native)
- Bonnemaisonia hamifera (Hooked weed; an alien species in Europe)
- Calliblepharis ciliata
- Calliblepharis jubata
- Callophyllis laciniata (Fried-egg weed)
- Catenella caespitosa
- Ceramium nodulosum (also known as Ceramium rubrum)
- Ceramium virgatum (aka Ceramium rubrum)
- Champia parvula
- Chondria verticillata
- Chondrus crispus (Carrageen Moss, Irish Moss)
- Chondracanthus acicularis
- Chylocladia verticillata
- Colaconema caespitosum
- Corallina elongata (A smaller and less common version of Corallina officinalis)
- Corallina officinalis (Corallina)
- Cordylecladia erecta
- Cryptopleura ramosa
- Cystoclonium purpureum
- Dasya hutchinsiae
- Delesseria sanguinea
- Dilsea carnosa (False dulse)
- Drachiella spectabilis (Only subtidal)
- Dudresnaya verticillata (Mostly subtidal)
- Dumontia contorta
- Erythrodermis traillii
- Erythroglossum laciniatum (Mostly subtidal)
- Furcellaria lumbricalis (Black carrageeen)
- Gelidium pulchellum
- Gelidium pusillum
- Gelidium spinosum
- Gracilaria gracilis
- Grateloupia filicina
- Gymnogongrus crenulatus
- Halarachnion ligulatum (Exclusively subtidal)
- Heterosiphonia japonica (Introduced alien)
- Heterosiphonia plumosa (native)
- Hildenbrandia rubra
- Jania rubens
- Jania squamata (also known asHaliptylon squamatum)
- Kallymenia reniformis (Mainly subtidal)
- Laurencia obtusa
- Lomentaria articulata
- Lomentaria clavellosa
- Lomentaria orcadensis
- Mastocarpus stellatus (Carrageen Moss, Irish Moss)
- Meredithia microphylla (Exclusively subtidal)
- Membranoptera alata
- Mesophyllum lichenoides
- Nemalion helminthoides
- Nitophyllum punctatum
- Odonthalia dentata (Primarily subtidal, often in drift in northern areas)
- Osmundea hybrida
- Osmundea osmunda (Pepper Dulse)
- Osmundea pinnatifida (Pepper Dulse)
- Palmaria palmata (Dulse, Dillisk)
- Phycodrys rubens
- Phyllophora crispa
- Phyllophora pseudoceranoides
- Phymatolithon calcareum (Maërl, Coral beaches, Coral strands)
- Plumaria plumosa
- Pterocladiella capillacea (formerly Pterocadia capillacea)
- Porphyra dioica (Nori, Laver, Sloke)
- Porphyra linearis (Nori, Laver)
- Porphyra miniata (Nori, Laver)
- Porphyra umbilicalis (Nori, Laver)
- Ptilota gunneri (Also known as Ptilota plumosa; mostly subtidal)
- Rhodomela confervoides
- Rhodothamniella floridula
- Rhodochorton purpureum
- Rhodymenia pseudopalmata
- Schizymenia dubyi
- Schottera nicaeënsis
- Schmitzia hiscockiana
- Vertebrata lanosa
Green algae (Sea Lettuce, etc.)
- Cladophora rupestris
- Codium fragile (Spongeweed)
- Codium tomentosum (Spongeweed)
- Monostroma grevillei
- Prasiola stipitata
- Spongomorpha aeruginosa
- Ulva compressa (A kind of Sea Lettuce; tube-like green alga)
- Ulva rigida (Sea Lettuce)
- Umbraulva olivascens (Sea Lettuce, but olive in colour rather than green)
News
Seaweed on Great Barrier Reef 'rings warning bells'
Fumes from rotting seaweed on France's northern beaches could kill
Biofuel Bet Aims to Harvest Fish That Feed on Algae
Books
An Irish Seaweed Kitchen - Prannie Rhatigan.
New Seaweed Recipies - with an Irish twist.
€35
Meeresalgen - Wolfram Braun.
Colour identification guide to seaweeds of the World.
Advertising
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