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Rhodophyta · Red Seaweed

Mastocarpus alaskensis

S.C.Lindstrom, Hughey & Martone
Phylum
Rhodophyta
Class
Florideophyceae
Order
Gigartinales
Family
Phyllophoraceae

Mastocarpus alaskensis

Turkish washcloth

Authority
S.C.Lindstrom, Hughey & Martone
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, male thalli smooth.

Habitat

One of our most common seaweeds, growing on rocks from the high to mid intertidal of semi-protected to semi-exposed habitats.

North Pacific Distribution

Aleutian Islands, Alaska to northern California; Russia

Former scientific names

misidentified as Mastocarpus papillatus

Similar taxa

Mastocarpus intermedius and M. latissimus occur in low intertidal habitats.

References

Last updated December 26, 2010

Photos