Ochrophyta · Brown Seaweed

Ectocarpus siliculosus complex

Phylum
Ochrophyta
Class
Phaeophyceae
Order
Ectocarpales
Family
Ectocarpaceae

Ectocarpus siliculosus complex

False sea felt

Thallus is light brown, with very finely branched uniseriate filaments to 60 μm diameter and reaching at least 8 cm (3 in) tall.Branches taper and are more or less alternate.The cells have several ribbonlike chloroplasts per cell.

Habitat

This species is usually epiphytic on other algae in low intertidal sheltered habitats in mid to late summer.

North Pacific Distribution

Arctic coast of Alaska south to central California; Korea; Japan

Former scientific names

Conferva siliculosa

Similar taxa

Elachista, Pylaiella, Sphacelariales

Last updated December 26, 2010

Photos