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Genus (i.e. Fucus)
Species (i.e. Gardneri)
Common Name (i.e. Rock Weed)
Phylum (i.e. Ochrophyta)
All of the above
Brown Sea Moss
Sphacelaria rigidula
Authority:
Kutzing
North Pacific Distribution:
Alaska Peninsula, Alaska, to Mexico; China, Japan.
Phylum:
Ochrophyta
Class:
Phaeophyceae
Order:
Sphacelariales
Family:
Sphacelariaceae
Former Scientific Names:
Sphacelaria furcigera, S. subfusca
Description: Thallus is composed of fine, brown filaments, which grow in small tufts to about 1 cm (0.4 in) tall from basal rhizoids. Branching is irregular and only visible under a microscope. The elongate apical cell is the same width as the rest of the filament, which can become polysiphonous. Habitat: This often overlooked perennial occurs on rock from the high to low intertidal of protected to semi-exposed habitats. Similar taxa: Ectocarpus, Elachista, Pylaiella.
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