Porphyrella gardneri, Porphyra gardneri

Description: Thallus is somewhat oval, to 12 cm (5 in) long, reddish pink, one cell layer thick, with the margin slightly ruffled to somewhat ragged. Sexes are intermixed. Habitat: This species grows in large numbers along the edges of blades of Laminaria and sometimes other kelps in the low intertidal and subtidal of semi-exposed and exposted habitats. Similar taxa: Wildemania variegata, another common epiphyte on kelps, is larger and has a blade sectored into separate male and female “halves”.