Laminaria pallida

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Split-fan kelp
Laminaria pallida off the Cape Peninsula west coast
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Clade: Diaphoretickes
Clade: SAR
Clade: Stramenopiles
Phylum: Gyrista
Subphylum: Ochrophytina
Class: Phaeophyceae
Order: Laminariales
Family: Laminariaceae
Genus: Laminaria
Species:
L. pallida
Binomial name
Laminaria pallida
Greville ex J, Agardh 1848

Laminaria pallida, the split-fan kelp, is a species of large brown seaweed of the class

Gough islands in the Atlantic and Île Saint-Paul
in the Indian Ocean.

Description

The large thallus is up to 10m long, with a single smooth broad blade which splits into several parallel longitudinal straps. The holdfast is multiply branched, and the stipe is usually solid, fairly stiff, round in section and tapers gradually toward the blade. In specimens with hollow stipes the stipe narrows towards the base.[1]

Distribution

Danger Point on the south coast of South Africa to Port Nolloth in Namibia, Tristan da Cunha and Gough islands in the Atlantic and St Paul Island in the Indian Oacean.[1]

Type locality: Table Bay, Cape Province, South Africa (Silva, Basson & Moe 1996: 641).[2]

Ecology

Laminaria pallida, Namibia, in intertidal or shallow subtidal zone

Commonly found below a canopy of the Sea bamboo Ecklonia maxima down to 15 m, and replaces it in deeper water to 30 m The frond tips sweep the surrounding reef surface, reducing the numbers of animals that may eat sporelings.[3]

References

  1. ^ .
  2. ^ Wendy Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 2018. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org/search/species/detail/?species_id=maf131d96f8ffdef1; searched on 26 May 2018.
  3. .