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Ochrophyta · Brown Seaweed

Desmarestia viridis

(O.F.Müller) J.V.Lamouroux
Phylum
Ochrophyta
Class
Phaeophyceae
Order
Desmarestiales
Family
Desmarestiaceae

Desmarestia viridis

Stringy acid kelp

Authority
(O.F.Müller) J.V.Lamouroux
The light brown thallus has a cylindrical central axis, opposite branching, and a discoidal holdfast. The thallus is often delicate.It grows up to 120 cm (48 in) tall and is considered the most acidic of all the acid kelps, destroying itself and other seaweeds when damaged by releasing sulfuric acid.

Habitat

This perennial is found on rock in the very low intertidal to subtidal zones in semi-protected to exposed habitats.

North Pacific Distribution

Arctic Ocean, Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands, Alaska to Baja California, Mexico; China; Korea; Japan; Russia

Former scientific names

Fucus viridis, Desmarestia media var. tenuis

Similar taxa

Chordaria, Dictyosiphon

References

Last updated December 26, 2010

Photos