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Genus (i.e. Fucus)
Species (i.e. Gardneri)
Common Name (i.e. Rock Weed)
Phylum (i.e. Ochrophyta)
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Turkish Washcloth
Mastocarpus alaskensis
Authority:
S.C.Lindstrom, Hughey & Martone
North Pacific Distribution:
Aleutian Islands, Alaska, to northern California; Russia
Phylum:
Rhodophyta
Class:
Florideophyceae
Order:
Gigartinales
Family:
Phyllophoraceae
Former Scientific Names:
misidentified as Mastocarpus papillatus
Description: Thallus is a branched blade, reddish brown (almost black) to yellowish brown, tough, reaching 15 cm (6 in) tall; branching dichotomous to irregular. This perennial species arises from a Petrocelis-like base; female thalli have distinct bumps (papillae), like a rough washcloth. Habitat: One of our most common seaweeds, growing on rocks from the high to mid intertidal of semi-protected to semi-exposed habitats. Similar taxa: Mastocarpus spp.
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