Nereocystis luetkeana
From Biocrawler, the free encyclopedia.
| Nereocystis luetkeana | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||
| Binomial name | ||||||||||||||
| Nereocystis luetkeana Postels and Ruprecht, 1840 |
Nereocystis luetkeana is an annual kelp which is common from north of Carmel, California, to the Aleutian Islands, Alaska. Occasionally, the kelp lasts longer than one season.
This kelp has a holdfast of about 40 cm, with a single stipe of up to 36 m. It contains a single pneumatocyst at the end of the stipe, with multiple (30-64) blades attached to the pneumatocyst. The blades are up to 4 m long, and 15 cm broad.
This species forms thick beds on rocks and are an important part of kelp forests.
[edit]
References
Decews Guide (http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/guide/brown66.html)
