Neorhodomela larix

Black Pine, Black Larch

14 April 2020

Harling Point, Juan de Fuca Strait, British Columbia, Canada

Observed on site then small specimens collected at 3:30 pm PDT

Low Tide 2.3 feet at 3:52pm PDT (measured at Oak Bay Tidal Station)

Weather: Mix of sun and cloud, light winds, light ship generated swell, temperature 12˚, relative humidity 60%.

Phase of the Moon: Third Quarter (Third Quarter, 14 Apr 2020, 3:56pm PDT)

Figure 1: A cascade of Black Pine is growing here from crevices in bedrock; this red algae often looks so dark that the name “Black” Pine is indeed fitting. Harling Point, Juan de Fuca Strait, B.C. Canada. April 14, 2020. Photo ID 27463 ©Seaweedwhisperings.com

In situ observations:

Person 1:

Graceful in simplicity.

Pleasantly arranged as it sits in a slight depression amongst the rocks.

Trickle of water flows under it.

I see a distinct, very dark purple hue to it.

Ugly mass from the distance but gorgeous and delicate when viewed up close.

Tight ends like conifer buds.

Looks prickly but is not so when touched.

Gentle sweeping appearance as I move my eyes along the stem.

Looks like an upright coarse Polytrichum moss.

Person 2:

Hard to find you again, yet we knew you were here. Where are you, Black Pine...?

Deep purple-y brown black.

Threads of simple ‘needles’ forming a lovely pattern.

Overall it has the appearance of braids (braided / plaited / cornrow hair style.)

A mermaid’s glossy, dark and beautiful hair?

You are growing in a wet bedrock depression surrounded by barnacles big and small; are they your guardians?

Chitons, eel grass, anemone and coralline algae like this area where you live, too.

Dark coloration – absorbs light well? What do you do with all that energy?

Do you get extra warm? Or are cool “feet” good enough.

[I now moved from just observing from a distance and physically moved some of the stems from their natural placement to examine them more closely.]

Oh, you make branches!

Surprise! Those (branches) are hidden when the tide lays you out flat.

Are you all one plant? Or, a colony of many plants?

Spiral! Your growth has a spiral progress along the stems. This was hidden by the longer simple branchlets on top (as laid out naturally by the receding tide).

You have a lovely home here.

Surf is gentle today.

Sun is warm, not staggeringly hot.

All this lulls one, has one slow down, fall into rhythm, rest and maybe grow sleepy.

I noted that Person 1 was moving slowly, smoothly, gracefully; when asked about this, he said he was “embracing the landscape”.

Seaweed, you are brown and black, like a Black Oystercatcher. [This bird lives in this area – a pair is nesting in the immediate area.]

In our vehicle, transporting our samples of this seaweed back home for further observations, I said to Person 1, “I’ll let some water in for you”. I said this as I opened the window to cool our sun warmed vehicle. I meant to say “air”, but “water” popped out of my mouth instead. I was still immersed in the ‘feel’ of the watery seashore realm of Black Pine.

Figure 2: This close in (larger than life-sized) view shows the whorled branching pattern of Neorhodomela larix; it also reveals the ‘red’ that is there underneath the darker “black” distant look. Ship Point, Baynes Sound, Strait of Georgia, B.C., Canada. April 13, 2022. Photo ID 27464 ©Seaweedwhisperings.com

Further Observations & Impressions:

Person 1:

Looks like a corkscrew.

Held by stem (with tops downward) looks much like over-mature alder catkins.

Rocking rhythmically in basin like a pendulum, contentedly.

I’m imagining it in situ rather than wanting to look at it in the basin. Not really wanting to look at it any more in the basin.

It looks like a segmented caterpillar.

Soft short bristles – feels like a soft bottle brush.

Person 2 announced an informal title for this this current phase of our observations; once again she substituted some words that were quite different from what she intended to say. Transcribing these notes later she said it was as if quite unintentionally and unexpectedly the wrong words “fell out” of her mouth.

Bite (crunch) gives a feeling, not a taste.

Pleasant lettuce-like taste.

Wanted to chew it a bit more – nice crunch.

No odor.

About 3 minutes after tasting had a slight tingling in the skin on the outside edges of my orbits (at the level with the crease of my eyelids).

The following morning; I had a lingering taste of the seaweed in my mouth, and I’m sure there was no actual seaweed in my mouth then.

Black Pine – as a common name it is uninteresting, don’t want to reflect further.

“Larix” brings me visions of light green new foliage of tamarack in the open bogs of northeastern British Columbia. Fresh air in a remote area but compromised by natural gas pipelines, compression plants and seismic line clearings.

“Neorhodomela” – pretty name – “new birth” connotation.

Person 2:

Single stems, even branched ones, look “diminished” out of the group we collected them from.

Spiral pattern of leaves grow in tufty clumps, almost like burrs – and they catch stuff, stringy bits of other algae (like burrs get caught and hold on to your socks).

The dark coloration makes it hard to see the individual “needles” – they blend into a dark blob-y shape.

Two main growths?

Longer needles, and something shorter and rounder underneath?

I need my hand lens now.

Does the clump of tufts hide something in its core? A treasure?

Perhaps not. But they curve inwards as if to curl around and protect some ‘core’ thing.

Can’t see / not seen – dark color makes it hard to observe details and curved and protective shape hides what’s inside.

I couldn’t see the spiral growth pattern, nor the branching aspect, when the plant grouping was laid out naturally by the receding tide; the pattern was underneath and couldn’t be seen.

I wonder how the deep dark color of this seaweed works underwater. Is it “not seen” there, too?

Like a shadow or just darker looking water, is that how it appears?

This seaweed has a “grain” (like fabric grain which refers to the direction of the warp and weft threads used in weaving the fabric). Moving my fingers up the stem it is bumpy, but it is relatively smooth to proceed in this direction. Moving the opposite way, down the stem towards the base, my fingers are stopped; the flayed out little needles create a barrier to that movement all along that direction.

One way travel? Or travel in one direction is encouraged, in the opposite, it is discouraged.

Rolling the stem between my fingers creates a direction, a flow; you feel a progress rolling up in the spiral – like a tiny stairway that moves you along its course).

Touch is not nearly as sharp as the needles appear.

Oh, once again I misspoke – a word that was not intended just popped into my mouth. This is my second word mistake.

Thallus is stronger than you think – the strength of the stem itself, especially in comparison to how easily it broke away from its base when collected.

No smell – tried crushing like an herb, still no smell.

Taste, when chewing there was a bit of a puckering in my mouth as if eating a sour lemon – but only a small bit of this puckering sensation.

The texture to bite and chew is surprisingly appealing – it’s crisp and firm but, alas, no flavor comes with the chewing, so disappointing in taste.

“Larix”, I should know that name…, oh, yes, larch, the beautiful larch trees!

Common name, yes – looks like a pine, and more specifically a larch, but not green or golden like the trees, but deep purple-y brown black.

Black Pine – are you the one that stands out for blackness? Like a shadow, a lack of light, a misdeed, or a wrong? Or is it just, wow! That’s sure black! Notable in its blackness.

“Neorhodomela” sounds kind of ‘spiraling’ to say it.

“Neo”, new.

“Rhodo”, red/rose colored.

“Mela”, possibly from melanistic, dark or black.

New – red – black.

Figure 3: These Black Pine algae that are rimming this intertidal rock are likely vegetatively reproduced; once established they multiply in place and persist very well. Sharing this rocky habitat Fucus distichus and Hildenbrandia rubra are algal neighbors. Old barnacle bases paint white patches on the rock too. Ship Point, Baynes Sound, Strait of Georgia, B.C., Canada. April 13, 2022. Photo ID 27465 ©Seaweedwhisperings.com

Listening Further:

Person 1:

I felt a ‘laissez-faire’ attitude towards this Whispering – whatever goes…

Appears comfortable in its niche, but it actually craves more.

Did I want more time with the seaweed in situ, even though I thought I had spent enough time on the shore?

Noticed that Person 2 seemed fascinated looking carefully at the seaweed in the basin etc., but that didn’t pique my interest.

Superficiality – resistant or disinterest to exploring deeper.

Keep to the “perceived” task.

Don’t want to get off track or distracted.

Frequent after-thoughts.

Perhaps suppressed.

“I’m ok”, but not really – I want more.

Question: “What are you thinking?”

Answer: “Nothing.”

But actually wishing for more or something else, but can’t express it.

Sadness at not fully manifesting potential.

My mind went blank and numb while contemplating this sadness.

Then I woke up to “that’s enough” for this Whispering. Thus rebounding into action from inaction. Also rebounding into “joy” and “happiness” from sadness.

Mindlessly daydreaming.

Self-suppress or subdue hopes and dreams – no one will care.

Person 2:

“Together we’re something”.

We don’t stand alone.

We hear the anemones chatting and the barnacles clacking.

We’re awaiting a song – a siren’s beautiful melody, perhaps?

We want music, not noise.

What song carries through the water to us?

We want a song, but we ourselves don’t sing.

[I noticed that I need to speak of this seaweed as “we” not “I”.]

This seaweed LONGS FOR something – something it can’t quite even name.

Dark tones & spiral growth – not direct – not flashy-colored.

Not direct, going around corner after corner; not the most direct route, nor the shortest, but still going forward – corner after corner after corner.

Dark tones, but bright goals – the light, a song, the perfect, gentle lover’s touch. Maybe around the next corner?

Work is not hard, it is easy.

Play is not easy, it is hard.

I am sensitive – don’t hurt my feelings, I’ll curl inward to be strong, to hide my soft center.

Feel, not think.

Think, not feel.

Or…., just NOT [nothing].

Figure 4: A dense mat of Neorhodomela larix is doing very well here – it is covering an area of many meters; at this location the depressions in the sandstone shelf hold enough water to satisfy the needs of these distinctive red algae. French Beach, Juan de Fuca Strait, B.C., Canada. March 8, 2021. Photo ID 27466 ©Seaweedwhisperings.com

After amble:

Person 1:

I noticed early on that I repeatedly wanted to add modifiers to my original phrases.

When Person 2 asked her seaweed, “Where are you?” my reaction was as if she was asking ME where am I – as in “where am I in my thoughts/mind” – she’s looking for me as in I’m not “present”.

Person 2’s description of observations of the seaweed seemed to describe my very way of being. Almost every point / observation seemed to fit.

Person 1 (interactions continued a bit later):

Sadness, instant, almost to tears, when saying “thank you” to the specimens, upon readying them for return to the sea. It felt like a “good bye” – FOREVER. Tears now. Forever – like I’ll never see you again. Tears flow. It’s that downward plunge into nothing. And I’ve almost hit the bottom now [about 2 minutes along, whilst staying fully “in” this experience]. Now…, I’m starting to rebound [seconds later]. My tears are acid, it hurts, and they’re stinging, very stinging. And I’m rebounding, slowly steadily, rebounding (hand gesture of a gentle curve upwards).

Question: When you go down is it a slow and steady curve the same as that upward return you gestured?

Answer: It’s a spiral – descending, descending, not out of control like falling off a cliff – just spiraling down.

Person 2:

When sharing and reciting my observations, this triggered new insights by Person 1. More and more seemed to come to him. He would jot down yet another note – this was notable in this Whispering.

Discussion:

Can’t let go.

Manifesting potential is impeded by the inability to let go.

Persistent to the extreme in maintaining a point of view, practice or activity long after it’s proven to be obsolete or unviable – it feels like this could be one ‘problem’ in this seaweed’s energy.

Don’t want to let go – of the good times, and of the things that seem to work.

Flip side to this – persistence is a talent. It can allow you to potentially reach the goal.

Descends spiraling deeply into darkness when things go bad, but rebounds swiftly, strong and steadily after “hitting bottom”.

Once bottom is hit, can easily shed or let go of “bad” or unpleasant things. Those then feel peripheral, can just put them aside, they’re not impacting now. Keep on track. Thinking about these bad things is not useful. This shedding is automatic, happens without conscious thought.

Remembrance of good times, even ones from many decades ago experienced as though they were yesterday.

Feelings with the memories are “happy tears” – remembering fondly but teary at having lost them.

Though past good times are treasured, no attempt is made to get back to them or to recreate them. It’s gone forever – that’s just the facts.

Good-byes are very difficult and usually teary. The hard ones seem to be more related to places and assemblages of happenings (combination of the environment, the people, the event – the “whole” of the experience), rather than good-bye to a single person. It’s not about remembering spending time with a person; if a person is remembered it also immediately includes a place, an activity, the weather, the whole interaction – a person would be a part of the total.

Good-byes come with a deep sadness that there will never be an experience like this ever again.

No good-byes uttered unless forced; again, don’t want to let go.

Narrow focus - keep to the perceived task. Desire to keep on task. Don’t want to get off track – things may collide with me / derail me from my track. If thrown right off track, I basically have to start all over again; no capacity to carry on from point of interruption.

Interruptions are like a collision. This “keeping on task” energy does not abide collisions, avoids them as much as possible. Avoids cramped situations where there’s no room to move.

Avoid; avoidance of…, avoid conflict.

Head for “open ice”, to avoid collision / conflict / cramped situation / being pinned down.

Open space is much desired – will always move to open space.

Figure 5: Black Pine is abundant here and it is being grazed by the equally abundant periwinkle snails. Port San Juan, Juan de Fuca Strait, B.C., Canada. June 10, 2020. Photo ID 27467 ©Seaweedwhisperings.com

Biology & Natural History Information:

Description:

The dark brown to black coloration of this red alga makes it easily to misidentify as a brown alga. Its growth pattern resembles a ‘dreadlocks’ or ‘cornrow’ hairstyle on the rocks. Axes are clumped, often growing from the same attachment point. Main axes are either unbranched or branch only a few times; they reach a height often of 10 to 20 cm or more. Numerous coarse side branchlets are crowded along the main axis, and they characteristically look rather clumped. These rather stiff side branchlets are all approximately the same length (up to 1 cm) and whorl around the supporting axis like a bottle brush. The plant can lose its deep color towards the end of the growing season, becoming irregularly patchy in coloration. At times a dusty brown film is associated with Black Pine – this is actually a layer of diatoms (single celled algae) that coat it.

Reproduction: This species has an isomorphic life cycle; that is the gametophytic individuals are indistinguishable from the tetrasporophytes. Also, the gametophytes are dioecious (male and female individuals are separate). Release of spores (as studied in Oregon, USA) occurred year round except in January and February, when upright branches died back.

Habitat:

This tough perennial can form dense mats on rocks in the intertidal regions of semi-exposed habitats.

World Distribution: 

Bering Sea and Aleutian Islands, Alaska and extending along the coastline of North America to Baja California, Mexico; Japan; Russia.

Remarks:

Research has shown that Black Pine could withstand a week of immersion in water at 25°C (77°F) but died when placed in warmer water. In central Oregon it grows most rapidly in spring and summer, sometimes as much as 1.2 mm new growth per day. Individuals growing in the higher intertidal zone had fewer and shorter branches than those growing at lower tide levels.

Recruitment of young individuals of Black Pine onto freshly cleared rock was extremely slow, suggesting to researchers that dense populations of this species are maintained by vegetative spreading (asexual reproduction in which a new plant grows from a fragment of the parent plant) from existing individuals – and then long persistence of these. Research on the outer coast of Washington state, USA, showed that once the tough holdfasts of Black Pine were established the alga could grow vegetatively and then easily monopolize the rocky surface in a tide pool. Because Black Pine tolerates some sediment, it is a superior competitor to other seaweeds that cannot.

Black Pine has moderate caloric value (3.41 Calories per gram of dry weight). It contains bromophenols (see note below), which can deter some herbivores.

Bromophenols are being studied for their biological activities and potential application as pharmaceuticals: Marine algae contain various bromophenols that have been shown to possess a variety of biological activities, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-diabetic, and anti-thrombotic effects. Studies with this seaweed, along with other red algae, is yielding progress on the research into these marine algal biomaterials, with respect to structure, bioactivities, and their potential application as pharmaceuticals.

Classification:

Phylum: Rhodophyta

Class: Florideophyceae

Order: Ceramiales

Family: Rhodomelaceae

Genus: Neorhodomela

Species: Neorhodomela larix (Turner) Masuda 1982

Former name(s): Fucus larix Turner 1819, Rhodomela larix (Turner) C.Agardh 1822, Lophura larix (Turner) Kützing 1849, Fuscaria larix (Turner) Ruprecht 1850.

Figure 6: Black Pine can have a way of “surrounding” things with its presence – in this case, some California mussels. Once established Neorhodomela larix can reproduce asexually and then typically persists for a long time. Here it likely helps the mussels persist as well, protecting from or sharing the brunt of any surf action. Port San Juan, Juan de Fuca Strait, B.C., Canada. June 10, 2020. Photo ID 27468 ©Seaweedwhisperings.com