Mazzaella splendens

Splendid iridescent seaweed

Authority: (Setchell & N.L. Gardner) Fredericq

Thallus is an undivided, cordate to lanceolate blade, to 30 cm (12 in) or taller, sometimes lobed, very rubbery, and usually an iridescent brownish or purplish red. Northern specimens are smaller than those found from British Columbia south.

Habitat

This annual (with perennial crustose base) grows on rock in the low intertidal of semi-protected to exposed habitats.

North Pacific Distribution

Northern Southeast Alaska to Baja California, Mexico

Former scientific names

Iridophycus splendens, Iridaea splendens; misidentified as Iridaea cordata

Similar taxa

Mazzaella dewreedei is linear-lanceolate and only grows at very exposed sites.

References

AlgaeBase (opens in a new tab)

Last updated December 26, 2010