Fucus pyriferus

Description: Thallus of this golden brown canopy kelp may reach a length of 30 m (99 ft). A conical, richly branched holdfast (haptera) hosts several stipes, which branch dichotomously into vine-like fronds with blades to ~ 50 cm (20 in) long at regular intervals. The blades, which develop via splitting of a small terminal blade, are distinctly wrinkled with marginal teeth and a small gas-filled float (pneumatocyst) at their base. Habitat: This perennial kelp forms beds in the extreme low intertidal to subtidal of semi-exposed habitats. Similar taxa:  This species is considered by some to be conspecific with M. integrifolia.