Potatoes or brains?

The term “seaweed” refers to a group of marine organisms called macroalgae. Many people think of them as plants, but while they do share some similarities (e.g., photosynthesis), seaweeds actually belong to an entirely different kingdom: Protista. The larger group of macroalgae called seaweeds are further classified into red, green and brown alga. One of the easiest brown seaweeds to identify is the sea potato (Leathesia difformis): a yellowish-brown, lumpy sac-like seaweed, often with various dips, divots and furrows when…

Knotted wrack (Ascophyllum nodosum)

November 25, 2019 Elise

Many people think of seaweeds as simply plants that live in the sea. While many types of seaweed do have structures resembling the roots, stems and leaves of plants, and seaweeds do photosynthesize, technically seaweeds fall into an entirely different kingdom: Protista. Often referred to more scientifically as marine algae, seaweeds lack the specialized tissues found in plants responsible for transporting food and water. In most field guides, seaweeds are divided into three main groups: green, brown and red. These…

Dead Man’s Fingers (Codium fragile)

November 19, 2018 Elise

Most of what we call “seaweeds” are actually marine algae, not plants. Algae differ from marine vascular plants, such as eelgrass, in that they are more primitive and lack specialized structures such as seeds and flowers, although most do photosynthesize. Seaweeds are often categorized by color: red, brown or green. Codium fragile is a green marine algae that is easily identified by its thick dark green, rope-like, spongey branching form. These branches are soft with a velvety texture. Codium has…

Seashore to Forest Floor

A naturalist's journey across Cape Cod and beyond

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Tag: seaweed