Index of Whisperings

Our seaweed Whisperings are organized by group, and listed alphabetically by scientific name. Click on the individual species name to visit the Whispering you are interested in.

If you are unable to access a Whispering by clicking on the seaweed name it means that the Whispering is currently being edited; please check back at a future date.

Grouping of Macroalgae

The macroalgae of the world have been divided into three main groups that are separated by many millions of years of evolution. The groups are named for the distinguishing color of the member species, so we have the browns, the greens and the reds.

Red and green seaweeds share a common ancestry with terrestrial plants, albeit there’s been more than 1.5 billion years since reds and greens shared a common ancestor themselves. Brown algae are of a much younger lineage, and take a very different place on the phylogenetic tree; they actually have more in common with diatoms, dinoflagellates and protozoans than with the other red and green seaweeds that they share the coastlines of the world’s oceans with.

Brown (class Phaeophyceae in phylum Ochrophyta)

Alaria marginata – Ribbon kelp

Analipus japonicus – Fir needle

Battersia racemosa – Brown sea tuft

Coilodesme californica – Sea chip

Colpomenia peregrina – Oyster thief

Costaria costata – Five-ribbed kelp

Cymathaere triplicata – Three-ribbed kelp

Desmarestia aculeata – Wiry acid weed

Desmarestia herbacea – Stubby acid weed

Ectocarpus siliculosus – False sea felt

Desmarestia viridis – Stringy acid kelp

Egregia menziesii – Feather boa kelp

Fucus distichus – Rockweed

Hedophyllum sessile – Sea cabbage

Laminaria setchellii – Southern stiff-stiped kelp

Laminaria sinclairii – Dense-clumped kelp

Leathesia marina – Sea cauliflower

Lessoniopsis littoralis – Strap kelp

Macrocystis pyrifera – Giant kelp

Melanosiphon intestinalis – Twisted sea tubes

Neoagarum fimbriatum – Fringed sieve kelp

Nereocystis luetkeana – Bull kelp

Pelvetiopsis limitata – Dwarf rockweed

Petalonia fascia – Sea petals

Phaeostrophion irregulare – Sand-scoured false kelp

Pleurophycus gardneri – Broad-ribbed kelp

Postelsia palmaeformis – Sea palm

Pterygophora californica – Walking kelp

Ralfsia pacifica – Pacific ralfsia

Saccharina latissima – Sugar kelp

Sargassum muticum – Wireweed

Soranthera ulvoidea – Studded sea balloons

Green (Chlorophyta)

Acrosiphonia arcta – Arctic sea moss

Acrosiphonia coalita – Green rope

Codium fragile – Sea staghorn

Codium setechellii – Smooth spongy cushion

Derbesia marina – Sea pearls

Prasiola meridionalis – Emerald carpet

Ulothrix flacca – Mermaid's tresses

Ulva fenestrata – Sea lettuce

Ulva intestinalis – Gut weed

Ulva linza – Green string lettuce

Ulva prolifera – Branched string lettuce

Ulva stenophylla – Sea auger

Urospora wormskioldii – Jade necklace

Red (Rhodophyta)

Ahnfeltiopsis linearis – Flat-tipped forked seaweed

Ahnfeltia fastigiata – Wiry forked seaweed

Bangia fuscopurpurea – Black sea-hair

Callithamnion pikeanum – Beauty bush

Chondracanthus corymbiferus – Ornate Turkish Towel

Chondracanthus exasperatus – Turkish towel

Constantinea simplex – Cup and Saucer seaweed

Corallina vancouveriensis – Graceful coral seaweed

Cryptopleura ruprechtiana – Ruffled red seaweed

Cryptosiphonia woodii – Bleached brunette

Cumathamnion decipiens – Winged rib

Dilsea californica – California red blade

Endocladia muricata – Nail brush seaweed

Erythrophyllum delesserioides – Red sea leaf

Farlowia mollis – Tattered red seaweed

Fredericqia chiton – Flat forked seaweed

Fredericqia decewii – Cylindrical forked seaweed

Fryeella gardneri – Arched red seaweed

Gloiopeltis furcata – Jelly moss

Gracilaria vermiculophylla – Mudflat gracilaria

Gracilariopsis andersonii– Sea spaghetti

Grateloupia doryphora – Shaft-bearing iodine seaweed

Halosaccion glandiforme – Sea sac

Hildenbrandia occidentalis – Red rock crust

Mastocarpus agardhii – Narrow Turkish washcloth

Mastocarpus papillatus – Turkish washcloth

Mazzaella affinis – Bushy forked Mazzaella

Mazzaella oregona – Oregon mazza weed

Mazzaella parksii – Iridescent horn-of-plenty

Mazzaella splendens – Splendid iridescent seaweed

Melobesia mediocris – Seagrass Crust

Microcladia borealis – Coarse sea lace

Microcladia coulteri – Delicate sea lace

Nemalion vermiculare – Rubber threads

Neogastroclonium subarticulatum – Sea belly

Neopolyporolithon reclinatum – Coralline disc

Neorhodomela larix – Black pine

Odonthalia floccosa – Sea brush

Odonthalia washingtoniensis – Toothed-twig seaweed

Opuntiella californica – Red opuntia

Palmaria mollis – Red ribbons

Pleonosporium vancouverianum – Alternate skein

Polyneura latissima – Crisscross network

Prionitis sternbergii – Bleachweed

Ptilota serrata – Northern sea fern

Pyropia fallax – False laver

Pyropia nereocystis – Bull Kelp Laver

Pyropia perforata – Purple laver

Pyropia pseudolanceolata – Olive green winter laver

Rhodochorton purpureum – Red sea moss

Rhodymenia californica – California rose seaweed

Salishia firma – Signature Salishia

Sarcodiotheca gaudichaudii – Succulent seaweed

Smithora naiadum – Seagrass laver

Sparlingia pertusa – Red eyelet silk

Weeksia coccinea – Smooth red scrap

Wildemania amplissima – Red cellophane

Yendoa hakodatensis – Hakodate sea-tangle