Rhodophyta · Red Seaweed

Pyropia fucicola

(V.Krishnamurthy) S.C.Lindstrom
Phylum
Rhodophyta
Class
Bangiophyceae
Order
Bangiales
Family
Bangiaceae

Pyropia fucicola

Rockweed laver

Authority
(V.Krishnamurthy) S.C.Lindstrom
Thalli of nearly circular blades reach ~15 cm (6 in) in diam., color a uniform brown (center occasionally grayish with reddish margin), one cell layer and appearing thin. Reproductive cells are occasionally evident as lightly pigmented diamond-shaped patches around blade margin.

Habitat

This species is mostly in the mid intertidal although it can extend higher or lower, and can be epilithic, epiphytic (often on Fucus or Endocladia), or epizoic (on barnacles).

North Pacific Distribution

Aleutian Islands, Alaska to California

Former scientific names

Porphyra fucicola, Porphyra maculosa, Neopyropia fucicola

Similar taxa

Pyropia perforata, also called Neoporphyra perforata (J.Agardh) L.-E.Yang & J.Brodie, is thicker.

Last updated December 26, 2010

Photos