Seaweed descriptions and pictures
A selection of what will eventually be about 120 common seaweeds from the north-eastern Atlanic, most of which occur in Norway, Britain, Ireland, Atlantic France, 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.
Brown algae (Kelps, wracks, etc.)
- Alaria esculenta (Dabberlocks, Wing Kelp, Murlins)
- Ascophyllum nodosum (Asco, Sea Whistle, Bladderwrack)
- Bifurcaria bifurcata (No common name)
- Carpomitra costata (No common name)
- Chordaria flagelliformis (No common name)
- Cladostephus spongiosus (No common name)
- Cutleria multifida (No common name)
- Cystoseira baccata (No common name)
- Cystoseira nodicaulis (No common name)
- Cystoseira tamariscifolia (No common name)
- Desmarestia aculeata (No common name)
- Desmarestia ligulata (No common name)
- Desmarestia viridus (No common name)
- Elachista fucucola (No common name)
- Eudesme virescens (No common name)
- Fucus ceranoides (No common name)
- Fucus distichus (No common name; northern species)
- Fucus serratus (Serrated Wrack)
- Fucus spiralis (Spiralled Wrack)
- Fucus vesiculosus (Bladderwrack)
- Halopteris filicina (No common name)
- Pelvetia canaliculata (Chanelled wrack)
- Laminaria hyperborea (Kelp, May Weed)
- Laminaria digitata (Kelp)
- Pylaiella littoralis (No common name)
- Saccharina latissima (Sugar Kelp; formerly Laminaria saccharina)
- Saccorhiza polyschides (Europe: Furbelows, Sea Hedgehog, Kelp)
- Sargassum muticum (Japweed, an alien species in Europe)
- Spongonema tomentosum (No common name)
Red algae (Dulse, Carrageen Moss, etc.)
- Acrosorium ciliolatum (No common name)
- Aglaothamnion sepositum (No common name)
- Ahnfeltia plicata (Landlady's wig)
- Apoglossum ruscifolium (No common name)
- Asparagopsis armata (Harpoon weed, an alien species in Europe)
- Bangia fuscopurpurea (No common name)
- Bonnemaisonia asparagoides (No common name; native)
- Bonnemaisonia hamifera (Hooked weed; an alien species in Europe)
- Calliblepharis ciliata (No comon name)
- Calliblepharis jubata (No comon name)
- Callithamnion tetricum (No common name)
- Callophyllis laciniata (Fried-egg weed)
- Catenella caespitosa (No common name)
- Ceramium nodulosum (aka Ceramium rubrum)
- Ceramium virgatum (aka Ceramium rubrum)
- Champia parvula (No common name)
- Chondria verticillata (No common name)
- Chondrus crispus (Carrageen Moss, Irish Moss)
- Chondracanthus acicularis (No common name)
- Chylocladia verticillata (No common name)
- Colaconema caespitosum (No common name)
- Corallina elongata (No common name. A smaller version of Corallina officinalis)
- Corallina officinalis (Coralline)
- Cordylecladia erecta (No common name)
- Cryptopleura ramosa (No common name)
- Cystoclonium purpureum (No common name)
- Dasya hutchinsiae (No common name)
- Delesseria sanguinea (No common name)
- Dilsea carnosa (False dulse)
- Drachiella spectabilis (No common name; only subtidal)
- Dudresnaya verticillata (No common name; mostly subtidal)
- Dumontia contorta (No common name)
- Erythrodermis traillii(No common name)
- Erythroglossum laciniatum (No common name; mostly subtidal)
- Furcellaria lumbricalis (Black carrageeen)
- Gelidium corneum (No common name)
- Gelidium pulchellum (No common name)
- Gelidium pusillum (No common name)
- Gelidium spinosum (No common name)
- Gracilaria bursa-pastoris (No common name)
- Graciliaria multipartita (No common name)
- Gracilaria gracilis (No common name)
- Grateloupia filicina(No common name)
- Gymnogongrus crenulatus (No common name)
- Halarachnion ligulatum (No common name, exclusively subtidal)
- Heterosiphonia japonica (No common name; introduced alien)
- Hildenbrandia rubra (No common name)
- Kallymenia reniformis (No common name; mainly subtidal)
- Laurencia obtusa (No common name)
- Lomentaria articulata (No common name)
- Lomentaria clavellosa (No common name)
- Lomentaria orcadensis (No common name)
- Mastocarpus stellatus (Carrageen Moss, Irish Moss)
- Meredithia microphylla (No common name, exclusively subtidal)
- Membranoptera alata (No common name)
- Nitophyllum punctatum (No common name)
- Odonthalia dentata (No common name, primarily subtidal, often in drift in northern areas)
- Palmaria palmata (Dulse, Dillisk)
- Phyllophora crispa (No common name)
- Phyllophora pseudoceranoides (No common name)
- Phymatolithon calcareum (Maërl, Detached coralline algae, Coral beaches, Coral strands)
- Plumaria elegans (No common name)
- Polysiphonia lanosa (No common name)
- Porphyra dioica (Nori, Laver)
- Porphyra linearis (Nori, Laver)
- Porphyra umbilicalis (Nori, Laver)
- Ptilota plumosa (No common name; mostly subtidal)
- Rhodomela confervoides (No common name)
- Rhodothamniella floridula (No common name)
- Rhodochorton purpureum (No common name)
- Rhodymenia pseudopalmata (No common name)
- Schizymenia dubyi (No common name)
- Schottera nicaeensis (No common name)
- Schmitzia hiscockiana (No common name)
Green algae (Sea Lettuce, etc.)
- Chaetomorpha capillaris (No common name)
- Chaetomorpha melagonium (No common name)
- Cladophora rupestris (No common name)
- Codium bursa (No common name)
- Codium fragile (Spongeweed)
- Codium tomentosum (Spongeweed)
- Codium vermilara (Spongeweed)
- Monostroma grevillei (No common name)
- Prasiola stipitata (No common name)
- Ulva intestinalis (A kind of Sea Lettuce; tube-like green alga)
- Ulva compressa (Sea Lettuce)
- Ulva rigida (Sea Lettuce)
- Umbraulva olivascens (No common name)
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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