Description: The flattened frond rises from a disc holdfast and short stipe to a length of 70 cms and 24 cms broad. The solid blades are without midribs, which may split, and show a ruffled margin.

Habitat: Rare. Epiphytic on Zostera in lower littoral.

Distribution: In the British Isles known only from the Isles of Scilly and the west of Ireland. Europe:Mediterranean, Portugal, Atlantic coast of France, Iceland. Atlantic coast of North America: Canada and U.S.A.

Similar Species: Laminaria saccharina has, among other things, a rhizoidal holdfast unlike Punctaria which has a discoid holdfast.

Distribution Map from NBN: Punctaria crispata at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Punctaria crispata at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

WoRMS: Punctaria crispata at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Punctaria crispata (Kützing) Trevisan, 1849. AphiaID: 145342.

Classification: Biota; Chromista; Harosa; Heterokonta; Ochrophyta; Phaeophyceae; Fucophycidae; Ectocarpales; Chordariaceae; Punctaria