Soda straws • Scytosiphon lomentaria, Scytosiphon simplicissimus, Chorda lomentaria
Identification
The conspicuous gametophyte form of this brown seaweed resembles sausage links: it consists of a long, tubular, unbranched thallus that is usually constricted at fairly regular intervals. These narrow (to 1 cm wide) hollow tubes are olive brown to dark brown and grow in clusters from a disc-shaped holdfast. While they can reach up to 50 cm long, they are usually much shorter. The gametophyte alternates with a crustose sporophyte form.
Habitat & Range
This weedy species rapidly colonizes disturbed locations. It grows on rock in tidepools and in the mid to low intertidal, along semi-exposed to protected shorelines. Its North American range extends from Baja California, Mexico to the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands, Alaska; it is also found along shorelines in Russia, Japan, Korea, and China.
Similar Species
Twisted sea tubes (Melanosiphon intestinalis) is similarly long, narrow, and tubular, but lacks the constrictions of soda straws.
The crustose stage of this species resembles sea fungus (Ralfsia fungiformis), a fungus-like brown alga.
Intriguing Info
The life cycle of this species is complex and can vary between populations.
iNaturalist
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/182932-Scytosiphon-lomentaria
The conspicuous gametophyte form of this brown seaweed resembles sausage links: it consists of a long, tubular, unbranched thallus that is usually constricted at fairly regular intervals. These narrow (to 1 cm wide) hollow tubes are olive brown to dark brown and grow in clusters from a disc-shaped holdfast. While they can reach up to 50 cm long, they are usually much shorter. The gametophyte alternates with a crustose sporophyte form.
Habitat & Range
This weedy species rapidly colonizes disturbed locations. It grows on rock in tidepools and in the mid to low intertidal, along semi-exposed to protected shorelines. Its North American range extends from Baja California, Mexico to the Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands, Alaska; it is also found along shorelines in Russia, Japan, Korea, and China.
Similar Species
Twisted sea tubes (Melanosiphon intestinalis) is similarly long, narrow, and tubular, but lacks the constrictions of soda straws.
The crustose stage of this species resembles sea fungus (Ralfsia fungiformis), a fungus-like brown alga.
Intriguing Info
The life cycle of this species is complex and can vary between populations.
iNaturalist
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/182932-Scytosiphon-lomentaria
References
Lamb, A., and Hanby, B. (2005). Marine Life of the Pacific Northwest [electronic version]. Madeira Park, BC: Harbour Publishing.
Lindberg, M. and Lindstrom, S. (2010). Scytosiphon lomentaria Soda Straws. Seaweeds of Alaska. Accessed 26/10/2015.
O'Clair, R. and Lindstrom, S. Scytosiphon lomentaria (Lyngbye) J. Agardh. 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 26/10/2015.
Authors and editors of page
Kelly Fretwell (2015).
Lamb, A., and Hanby, B. (2005). Marine Life of the Pacific Northwest [electronic version]. Madeira Park, BC: Harbour Publishing.
Lindberg, M. and Lindstrom, S. (2010). Scytosiphon lomentaria Soda Straws. Seaweeds of Alaska. Accessed 26/10/2015.
O'Clair, R. and Lindstrom, S. Scytosiphon lomentaria (Lyngbye) J. Agardh. 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 26/10/2015.
Authors and editors of page
Kelly Fretwell (2015).