Coarse acid kelp • Desmarestia munda
Identification
This annual brown seaweed has a flat 4-10 cm wide blade bearing a distinct midrib along its entire length. Wide, flat branches (at least 1 cm wide) also bear midribs at maturity. The blade is attached to a non-branching holdfast via a flattened stipe. The entire structure of this algae is strap-like (ligulate). It can get to 8 m long.
* Note: there is uncertainty regarding the distinctions between some Desmarestia species, including D. latissima, D. ligulata, and D. munda. Currently all three are accepted species, however more work needs to be done to determine if any of these species or others in the genus are morphological variations of the same species. Gabrielson et al. describe D. ligulata as having more than two orders of branching and branches measuring less than 1 cm wide, whereas D. latissima has one or two orders of branching and branches measuring more than 1 cm wide. Other sources distinguish D. ligulata and D. munda on similar grounds, with the latter having wider branches than the former, and branches at least as wide as the main axis.
Habitat & Range
This algae can be found in the shallow subtidal or low intertidal of semi-exposed habitats. Its range extends from northern British Columbia to Baja California, Mexico.
iNaturalist
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/328359-Desmarestia-munda
This annual brown seaweed has a flat 4-10 cm wide blade bearing a distinct midrib along its entire length. Wide, flat branches (at least 1 cm wide) also bear midribs at maturity. The blade is attached to a non-branching holdfast via a flattened stipe. The entire structure of this algae is strap-like (ligulate). It can get to 8 m long.
* Note: there is uncertainty regarding the distinctions between some Desmarestia species, including D. latissima, D. ligulata, and D. munda. Currently all three are accepted species, however more work needs to be done to determine if any of these species or others in the genus are morphological variations of the same species. Gabrielson et al. describe D. ligulata as having more than two orders of branching and branches measuring less than 1 cm wide, whereas D. latissima has one or two orders of branching and branches measuring more than 1 cm wide. Other sources distinguish D. ligulata and D. munda on similar grounds, with the latter having wider branches than the former, and branches at least as wide as the main axis.
Habitat & Range
This algae can be found in the shallow subtidal or low intertidal of semi-exposed habitats. Its range extends from northern British Columbia to Baja California, Mexico.
iNaturalist
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/328359-Desmarestia-munda
References
Gabrielson, P. W., Widdowson, T. B., Lindstrom, S. C. (2006). Keys to the Seaweeds and Seagrassses of Southeast Alaska, British Columbia, Washington and Oregon. ISBN 0-9763817-1-0.
Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 2014. Desmarestia munda Setchell & N.L.Gardner. National University of Ireland, Galway. Accessed 14/11/2014.
Lamb, A., and Hanby, B. (2005). Marine Life of the Pacific Northwest [electronic version]. Madeira Park, BC: Harbour Publishing.
O'Clair, R. and Lindstrom, S. Desmarestia munda Setchell et Gardner 1924a. In Klinkenberg, Brian. (Ed.). E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Plants of British Columbia. Lab for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver. Accessed 14/11/2014.
Authors and editors of page
Joel White, Kelly Fretwell, and Brian Starzomski (2014).
Gabrielson, P. W., Widdowson, T. B., Lindstrom, S. C. (2006). Keys to the Seaweeds and Seagrassses of Southeast Alaska, British Columbia, Washington and Oregon. ISBN 0-9763817-1-0.
Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 2014. Desmarestia munda Setchell & N.L.Gardner. National University of Ireland, Galway. Accessed 14/11/2014.
Lamb, A., and Hanby, B. (2005). Marine Life of the Pacific Northwest [electronic version]. Madeira Park, BC: Harbour Publishing.
O'Clair, R. and Lindstrom, S. Desmarestia munda Setchell et Gardner 1924a. In Klinkenberg, Brian. (Ed.). E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Plants of British Columbia. Lab for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver. Accessed 14/11/2014.
Authors and editors of page
Joel White, Kelly Fretwell, and Brian Starzomski (2014).