Ochrophyta · Brown Seaweed

Soranthera ulvoidea

Postels & Ruprecht
Phylum
Ochrophyta
Class
Phaeophyceae
Order
Ectocarpales
Family
Chordariaceae

Soranthera ulvoidea

Studded sea balloons

Authority
Postels & Ruprecht
Thallus is a pale to olive brown sac with dark brown bumps, tapering to an inconspicuous, discoidal holdfast. The thallus ranges from 1 to 5 cm (0.4-2 in) tall and is strictly an epiphyte on species of Neorhodomela and Odonthalia.

Habitat

This summer annual is found in the mid to low intertidal from protected to semi-exposed habitats.

North Pacific Distribution

Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands, Alaska to Santa Barbara, California; Commander Islands, Russia

Former scientific names

Asperococcus ulvoides

Similar taxa

young Leathesia marina

Last updated December 26, 2010

Photos