Skip to Content

Dilsea carnosa (Schimidel) O. Kuntze

Also known as D. edulis and as "False dulse". It is not edible.

Description: Dark caramine red, frequently becoming yellow-green at apices, thick, flattened cartilaginous fronds, arising in groups of small, medium and large from a thick, discoid holdfast (see photo below), obtuse, ovate with tapered base, to 500 mm long, 250 mm broad; sometimes with small holes. Larger blades reproducing in December and January. Stands probably persist for many years as the disk produces new blades continuously.
Habitat: On rock in shady pools, lower intertidal on rock, and shallow subtidal to 25 m, usually on rock in kelp forests; widely distributed, common.
Similar species: This is the thickest and most cartilaginous of the broad, leaf-like species. Can be confused with Schizymenia dubyi and Kallymenia reniformis, both of which are thinner and softer. Young plants are characteristically ligulate. Palmaria palmata has usually one or more narrowly forking dichotomies, and is thinner and more slippery.

Dilsea carnosa © M.D. Guiry

Species list

Photographs © M.D. Guiry


  • Bio AtlantisBioAtlantis provides sustainable technologies from the sea to enhance plant, animal and human health.
  • Connemara Organic Seaweed CompanyConnemara Organic Seaweed Company provide hand harvested, sustainable, kelp and seaweed products for human consumption through health supplements and edible products.
  • Emerald Isle Organic Irish SeaweedEmerald Isle Organic Irish Seaweed. A family business producing seaweed as supplements, cooking, gardening and bath products.
  • Irish Seaweeds LtdIrish Seaweeds Ltd are suppliers of 100% natural hand-harvested seaweeds and edible sea vegetable products from Ireland.