Pyropia abbottiae

Black seaweed

Authority: (V.Krishnamurthy) S.C.Lindstrom

Thallus is a green blade, to ~ 50 cm (20 in) long, one cell layer thick and often deeply ruffled along the margin, especially in lower half. The margin becomes bright red when female cells are fertilized; male cells are in diamond-shaped streaks extending from near margin toward center of blade.

Habitat

This species is found on lower mid intertidal rock in spring and early summer, often on barnacles, on exposed or partially exposed shores.

North Pacific Distribution

Sanak Island, Alaska to northern California

Former scientific names

Porphyra abbottiae

Similar taxa

Pyropia fallax has paler female reproductive patches; Wildemania norrisii is thicker, less ruffled; Pyropia perforata is rounder and more uniform in color.