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Ochrophyta · Brown Seaweed

Desmarestia aculeata

(Linnaeus) J.V.Lamouroux
Phylum
Ochrophyta
Class
Phaeophyceae
Order
Desmarestiales
Family
Desmarestiaceae

Desmarestia aculeata

Witch's hair

Authority
(Linnaeus) J.V.Lamouroux
The medium brown to almost black thallus is coarse with cylindrical to slightly flattened branches arranged in an alternate pattern and a discoidal holdfast. The main axis is stiff and up to 5 mm (0.2 in) wide, and the whole individual can be up to 2 m (6.5 ft) tall. This species is low in sulfuric acid so it does not self-destruct like other species of Desmarestia.

Habitat

This perennial is found on rock (including cobble) in the low intertidal to subtidal zones from protected to semi-exposed habitats.

North Pacific Distribution

Arctic Ocean, Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands, Alaska to Oregon; Russia

Former scientific names

Fucus aculeatus, Desmarestia intermedia

Similar taxa

Chordaria

Comments

Oregon record not verified.

References

Last updated December 26, 2010

Photos