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Various seaweeds, August 2019, Exmouth, Devon, England. © Pete Hillman.
Tag: Seaweeds
Washed Up
Double click to get in amongst the various seaweeds washed up on the shore.
August 2017, Shanklin Beach, Isle of White, England.
Spiral Wrack Fucus spiralis
Shanklin Beach, Isle of White, England. August 2017.
Coral Weed
Corallina officinalis
This seaweed has a feathery appearance with its regular, opposing branched pattern. It varies in colour due to age and lighting conditions. The deeper it is it grows dark pink. It has a pink, disc-shaped encrusting holdfast which helps it anchor itself to rocks, shells or other larger seaweeds. It can grow up to 12cm in height.
It is typically found lining the edges of mid-shore rock pools. It is common and widespread.
Photographs of Coral Weed (Corallina officinalis), taken August 2015, in rock pool Meadfoot Beach, Torquay, Devon. © Pete Hillman 2015. Camera used Nikon D3200, with Sigma 105mm macro lens.
Purple Laver
Porphyra umbilicalis
Greenish in colour when young, but becoming purple-red as it matures, and is very resistant to drying out and the action of the waves. It forms thin, delicate sheets which cling to rocks and has a polythene-like texture. Width 20cm.
Found attached to rocks in sandy habitats. Abundant and widespread on rocky shores throughout.
Purple Laver is used to make laverbread in Wales, which is a traditional Welsh recipe.
Photographs of Purple Laver (Porphyra umbilicalis) taken April 2013, Llandudno, Wales. © Pete Hillman 2013. Camera used Nikon Coolpix P500.
Sea Belt
Saccharina latissima
Also called ‘Sugar Kelp’ or ‘Poor Man’s Weatherglass’, this is a long, belt-like brown to olive coloured seaweed with wavy edges and a crinkled centre. Length 4cm.
It grows in deep pools and around the low tide mark, usually on sheltered rocky shores attached to rocks with a small branching holdfast. A common and widespread species.
Photographs of Sea Belt (Saccharina latissima), taken August 2015, in rock pool Meadfoot Beach, Torquay, Devon. © Pete Hillman 2015. Camera used Nikon D3200, with Sigma 105mm macro lens.
Egg Wrack Wool
Polysiphonia lanosa
A brownish-red seaweed which is tufted and made up of branching filaments which gives it a wool-like consistancy. Length 70cm.
Found middle to low shore, and grows mainly on Egg Wrack (Ascophyllum nodosum) for physical support, known as an epiphyte. It makes use of the hosts buoyancy at high tide so it will gain more sunlight. Common and widespread throughout the British coastline.
Photographs of Egg Wrack Wool (Polysiphonia lanosa), taken August 2015, in rock pool Meadfoot Beach, Torquay, Devon. © Pete Hillman 2015. Camera used Nikon D3200, with Sigma 105mm macro lens.
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