Pterygophora californica

Woody-stemmed kelp

Authority: Ruprecht

Thallus is composed of a woody stipe to 1.5 m (~5 ft) long and 4 cm (1.6 in) in diam. Initially, there is a single terminal blade with a faint midrib, but it erodes away, and the only “blades” remaining are the dense sporophylls along the upper end of the stipe.

Habitat

This perennial species can occur in the very low intertidal but is primarily subtidal in exposed to semi-exposed habitats. It often attaches to cobble, which allows it to “walk” ashore as waves push it onto the beach.

North Pacific Distribution

Cook Inlet, Alaska to Baja California, Mexico

Similar taxa

Laminaria setchellii is also stiff stiped but has a terminal blade and lacks sporophylls.

References

AlgaeBase (opens in a new tab)

Last updated December 26, 2010