Description: Thalli large, brown growing to over 3 m long with thick cylindrical stipe over 2 cms in diameter tapering upwards attached by fiberous haptera. The stout stipe expands to form a flat leatherly digitate frond which splitting into several strap-like segments.

Habitat: Common. Generally sublittoral to about 30 m depth. Forms dense forests just below low tide.

Distribution: Common around the British Isles from the Channel Islands to the Shetland Islands except on the more sandy and muddy shores on the east of England. Europe: Portugal, Atlantic coasts of Spain and France, Helgoland in the North Sea, Norway, Faroes and Iceland. Further afield: Canary Islands.

Similar Species: Laminaria digitata is similar but has a smooth stipe, is somewhat smaller and is generally low littoral and upper littoral.

Key Identification Features:

• Large, roughened stipe and broad flat digitate blade.

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

iNaturalist: Laminaria hyperborea at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

WoRMS: Laminaria hyperborea at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Laminaria hyperborea (Gunnerus) Foslie, 1884. AphiaID: 145725.

Classification: Biota; Chromista; Harosa; Heterokonta; Ochrophyta; Phaeophyceae; Fucophycidae; Laminariales; Laminariaceae; Laminaria