Macroalgae Identification Identifying features. Brown Macroalgae Laminaria digitata also known as Oarweed/ Tangleweed/ Kombu/ Sea girdle/sea ribbon or Kelp. It can grow up to 2 meters in a strong current. It is found in the subtidal zone. It can be also found in the intertidal zone. It is a Brown macroalgae. the frond is large, flat wide and leathery there is no mid-rib the stipe is flexible and smooth it appears glossy and dark brown in colour Saccharina latissima also known as Sea belt/ Sugar kelp/ Sweet kombu/ Kombu royals/ Sea tangle/ Sugar wrack/ Poor Man s Weatherglass/ Oarweed or Kelp. It is found in the subtidal zone. It can grow up to 4 meters long. It is a Brown macroalgae. the frond is long, undivided and wavy and it looks like a giant leaf it has no mid-rib it has flexible stipe it is golden brown in colour it has a root like holdfast BioMara gratefully acknowledges the following funders: A project supported by the European Union s INTERREG IVA Programme managed by the Special EU Programmes Body.
Fucus vesiculosus also known as a Wrack. The common name is Bladderwrack/ Sea wrack/ Bladder fucus/ Dyers fucus/ Red focus/ Swine tang. It can grow up to 2 meters in length. It is usually found with Ascophyllum nodosum on the intertidal zone or rocky shore. It is a Brown macroalgae. the mid-rib is present with round shaped air bladders the air-bladders are usually paired the fronds are wavy and repeatedly branched it is classified as a brown macroalgae but it can appear Olive, Dark Green or Brown it contains a short thick stipe Fucus serratus also known as a Wrack. The common name is Serrated wrack/ Toothed wrack/ Saw wrack. It can grow up to 60 centimeters in length. It is found on the intertidal zone usually on the sheltered coastline. It is a Brown macroalgae. the fronds are flat with a mid-rib the edges of the fronds are serrated or jagged they have no air-bladders they are classified as Brown macroalgae but may appear Olive, Dark Green or Brown in colour.
Ascophyllum nodosum also known as a Wrack. The common name is Egg wrack/ Knotted wrack/ Asco/Rock weed/ Yellow weed/ Sea whistle/ Yellow tang. It can grow up to 2 meters long. It can be found growing on the intertidal zone or on rocky shores. It can be located along with Fucus vesiculosus. It is a Brown macroalgae. it has a narrow tough leathery flat fronds without a mid-rib it has swollen egg shaped air-bladders which are found along the fronds the fronds are repeatedly branched it is classified as Brown macroalgae but it appears Olive- Green in colour Green Macroalgae Ulva intestinalis also known as Gutweed or Sea grass. It can grow up to 30 centimeters in length. It is on the splash or intertidal zone. It is a Green macroalgae. the frond is long and tubular like the fronds do not divide into each other big groups of Ulva intestinalis may be seen growing together it is green in colour
Ulva lactuca also known as Sea lettuce. It is light and gentle in texture. It can grow up to 18 centimeters in length and 30 centimeters in width. It can be found growing in the intertidal zone. It is a Green macroalgae. it has a crumpled frond the thallus has a flat blade like appearance it has a holdfast it is bright green in colour but older species are darker in colour it looks like a small lettuce leaf it can be seen drifting in the water Red Macroalgae Palmaria palamata also known as Dulse/ Dillisk/ Shell dulse/ Sea Grass. It can grow up to 50 centimeters in length. It can be found in the subtidal zone. It can also be found in the intertidal zone. It can be eaten by humans. It is a Red macroalgae. it has a tough flat frond it has blades without a mid-rib the fronds can be alone or a few fronds together the holdfast is present it is purplish red or dark brown in colour
Chondrus crispus also known as Irish Moss/ Carrageen/ Carragheen/ Carrageen moss/ Jelly Moss/ Mousse d Irlande. It can grow up to 22 centimeters long. It is a bushy algae growing not higher than 15 centimenters in height. It is found in in the subtidal zone. It can also be found on the intertidal rocky shoreline. It is a Red macroalgae. it has flat leathery fronds with wide rounded tips it may appear green in strong sunlight it has un-branched stipe gradually expanding into a fan-like blade it has fronds repeatedly branched which appear bushy it has a short stipe Coralline Algae/ Maerl It can grow up to 4-5 centimeters across and are bright pink in colour when alive. It is found in the subtidal zone especially sand, mud or gravel in areas with strong wave action. It is very difficult to find as it is very rare. It is a Red macroalgae. it is unattached coralline algae and can lie at the bottom of the sea it is grey when dead it has branches typically less than 1 millimeter in diameter. it is very brittle with a calcareous skeleton
(image 16) Laminaria digitata also known as Oarweed, Tangleweed, Kombu, Sea girdle, Sea ribbon or Kelp.
(image 17) Saccharina latissima also known as Sea belt, Sugar kelp, Sweet kombu, Kombu royals, Sea tangle, Sugar wrack, Poor Man s Weatherglass, Oarweed or Kelp.
(image 18) Fucus vesiculosus also known as Wrack, Bladderwrack, Sea wrack, Bladder fucus, Dyers fucus, Red fucus, Swing tang Oarweed or Kelp.
(image 19) Fucus serratus also known as Wrack, Serrated wrack, Toothed wrack or Saw wrack.
(image 20) Ulva intestinalis also known as Gutweed or Sea grass.
(image 21) Ulva lactuca also known as Sea lettuce.
(image 22) Palmaria palamata also known as Dulse, Dillisk, Shell dulse or Seagrass.
(image 23) Chondrus crispus also known as Irish moss, Carrageen, Carragheen, Carrageen moss, Jelly moss or Mousse d Irlande.
Coralline algae also known as Maerl. (image 24)
(image 25) Ascophyllum nodosum also known as Wrack, Egg Wrack, Asco, Knotted Wrack, Rock weed, Yellow weed Yellow tang or Sea Whistle.
Barnacle (image 26)