CHROMOPHYTA : Laminariales : Alariaceae | BROWN ALGAE |
Description: Thallus large to 3 m long with midrib 3 cms wide along full length of frond. Blade mambraneous and pinnatifid. Pinnae to 80 cms long. Attached by strong rhizoids
Habitat: Abundant in the sublittoral mainly in estuaries. Capable of tolerating low salinity.
Distribution: British Isles: only reported from the south coast of England around the Isle of Wight, Devon and Channel Islands. Europe: Mediterranean, N.France. Further afield: Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania, Argentina, California, Japan, Korea and China.
Similar Species: Alaria esculenta is not so broad but does have a midrib. Without a pinnatifid blade.
Key Identification Features:
Distribution Map from NBN: Undaria pinnatifida at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.
iNaturalist: Undaria pinnatifida at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.
GBIF data for Undaria pinnatifida
WoRMS: Undaria pinnatifida at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Undaria pinnatifida (Harvey) Suringar, 1873. AphiaID: 145721.
Classification: Biota; Chromista; Harosa; Heterokonta; Ochrophyta; Phaeophyceae; Fucophycidae; Laminariales; Alariaceae; Undaria
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Morton, O. & Picton, B.E. (2024). Undaria pinnatifida. (Harvey) Suringar. [In] Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland. https://www2.habitas.org.uk/marbiop-ni/speciesaccounts.php?item=ZR6570. Accessed on 2025-04-18 |