Mazzaella parksii

Iridescent horn-of-plenty

Authority: (Setchell & N.L.Gardner) Hughey, P.C.Silva & Hommersand

Thallus is a purplish-red to olive brown blade, averaging 3-5 cm (1-2 in) tall, thick, rubbery, spatulate and shallowly cleft into 1-3 rounded lobes. Blades arise from a perennial base, and very large bumps (cystocarps) may be visible on the blade surface.

Habitat

This species forms dense clusters or carpets on rock in the high intertidal of semi-exposed to exposed coastlines.

North Pacific Distribution

Aleutian Islands, Alaska to Mendocino County, California; Russia

Former scientific names

Iridophycus parksii; misidentified as Iridaea cornucopiae, Mazzaella cornucopiae

Similar taxa

Male Mastocarpus alaskensis has a similar shape and color but is slightly more cartilaginous. Mazzaella oregona, M. parvula and M. phyllocarpa occur at lower elevations in the intertidal zone.