Info
Pelvetia canaliculata (Linnaeus) Decaisne & Thuret, 1845
Regularly dichotomously branched with a distinct channel on the underside (the side closest to the rock) that retains moisture and apparently helps the kelp survive in very high water levels on the shore. Pelvetia canaliculata is yellow-brown, black when dry. When the algae dries up, the fronds fall apart when you step on them.
Habitat: Occurs very high on shore on hard ground, on wave-exposed and sheltered shores, but absent from very exposed cliff shores. Some free-living ecotypes (var. libera) occur in salt marshes.
Similar species: No other seaweed has the distinctive canalization of Pelvetia.
A common brown algae that grows high up on the shore. It is very tolerant of desiccation and will survive out of water for up to 8 days. Pelvetia canaliculata lives for about 4 years and grows up to 15 cm long. The fronds of the algae are curled lengthwise and form a channel, which is why it is colloquially known as gutter kelp.
Characteristics:
The frond is wavy lengthwise and forms a clear channel
Without midrib or air bubbles
Reproductive bodies at the ends of the branches
Dichotomously branched
Swollen orange ends in spring and summer
Synonymised names
Ascophylla canaliculata (Linnaeus) Kuntze, 1891 · unaccepted (synonym)
Ascophyllum canaliculatum (Linnaeus) Kuntze, 1891 · unaccepted (synonym)
Fucodium canaliculatum (Linnaeus) J.Agardh, 1848 · unaccepted
Fucus canaliculatus Linnaeus, 1767 · unaccepted (synonym)
Fucus excisus Linnaeus, 1753 · unaccepted
Halidrys canaliculata (Linnaeus) Stackhouse, 1809 · unaccepted
Pelvetia canaliculata f. acultilobata (Lami) Ardré, 1961 · unaccepted
Pelvetia canaliculata f. acutilobata (Lami) Ardré, 1961 · unaccepted (synonym)
Pelvetia canaliculata f. interposita Lami, 1939 · unaccepted
Pelvetia canaliculata f. minima Simmons, 1897 · unaccepted (synonym)
Pelvetia canaliculata f. radicans Foslie, 1894 · unaccepted
Pelvetia canaliculata var. acutilobata Lami, 1939 · unaccepted
Pelvetia canaliculata var. coralloides S.M.Baker, 1912 · unaccepted (synonym)
Pelvetia canaliculata var. libera S.M.Baker, 1912 · unaccepted
Pelvetia canaliculata var. typica Lami, 1939 · unaccepted (synonym)
Regularly dichotomously branched with a distinct channel on the underside (the side closest to the rock) that retains moisture and apparently helps the kelp survive in very high water levels on the shore. Pelvetia canaliculata is yellow-brown, black when dry. When the algae dries up, the fronds fall apart when you step on them.
Habitat: Occurs very high on shore on hard ground, on wave-exposed and sheltered shores, but absent from very exposed cliff shores. Some free-living ecotypes (var. libera) occur in salt marshes.
Similar species: No other seaweed has the distinctive canalization of Pelvetia.
A common brown algae that grows high up on the shore. It is very tolerant of desiccation and will survive out of water for up to 8 days. Pelvetia canaliculata lives for about 4 years and grows up to 15 cm long. The fronds of the algae are curled lengthwise and form a channel, which is why it is colloquially known as gutter kelp.
Characteristics:
The frond is wavy lengthwise and forms a clear channel
Without midrib or air bubbles
Reproductive bodies at the ends of the branches
Dichotomously branched
Swollen orange ends in spring and summer
Synonymised names
Ascophylla canaliculata (Linnaeus) Kuntze, 1891 · unaccepted (synonym)
Ascophyllum canaliculatum (Linnaeus) Kuntze, 1891 · unaccepted (synonym)
Fucodium canaliculatum (Linnaeus) J.Agardh, 1848 · unaccepted
Fucus canaliculatus Linnaeus, 1767 · unaccepted (synonym)
Fucus excisus Linnaeus, 1753 · unaccepted
Halidrys canaliculata (Linnaeus) Stackhouse, 1809 · unaccepted
Pelvetia canaliculata f. acultilobata (Lami) Ardré, 1961 · unaccepted
Pelvetia canaliculata f. acutilobata (Lami) Ardré, 1961 · unaccepted (synonym)
Pelvetia canaliculata f. interposita Lami, 1939 · unaccepted
Pelvetia canaliculata f. minima Simmons, 1897 · unaccepted (synonym)
Pelvetia canaliculata f. radicans Foslie, 1894 · unaccepted
Pelvetia canaliculata var. acutilobata Lami, 1939 · unaccepted
Pelvetia canaliculata var. coralloides S.M.Baker, 1912 · unaccepted (synonym)
Pelvetia canaliculata var. libera S.M.Baker, 1912 · unaccepted
Pelvetia canaliculata var. typica Lami, 1939 · unaccepted (synonym)
