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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
Spiral Sieve Kelp
Thelassiophyllum clathrus
Authority:
(S.G. Gmelin) Postels et Ruprecht
North Pacific Distribution:
Pribilof Is., Aleutian Is., and Sanak I., Alaska; Russia.
Phylum:
Ochrophyta
Class:
Phaeophyceae
Order:
Laminariales
Family:
Costariaceae
Former Scientific Names:
Fucus clathrus, Agarum clathrus, Laminaria clathrus
Description: Thallus of this unique kelp is brown with a branched holdfast (haptera) and a woody stipe that is spirally twisted due to meristematic growth from which new blades unfurl. The blade can grow up to at least 50 cm (20 in) long and has somewhat regular perforations. Reproductive patches (sori) develop on the older portions of the blade. Habitat: This perennial kelp is found on rock in the very low intertidal and shallow subtidal and prefers semi-exposed habitats. It is also found in tidepools. Similar taxa: Agarum.
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