Desmarestia herbacea: The Race Rocks Taxonomy

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Desmarestia herbacea at the base of a Laminarian Photo by Ryan Murphy

Desmarestia herbaceaPhylum: Phaeophyta
Class: Phaeophyceae
Order: Desmarestiales
Family: Desmarestiaceae
Desmarestia herbacea (Lamouroux)

Description:  This plant is erect, up to 2m. high, flattened, 1-2 cm. wide, tapering abruptly to a short cylindrical stipe with a discoid holdfast.   The plant has 3-4 orders of branches from a percurrent axis; branching opposite; base of branch esstipitate.  The main axis and branches have a conspicuous thick percurrent midrib, and branch apices are densely clothed with acute hairs.

Habitat:  On rocks in the lower intertidal zone and upper subtidal zones.

Pacific Coast Distribution:  Alaska to Mexico. Robert Scagel, 1972
Other Phaeophytes or Brown Algae at Race Rocks

taxonomyiconReturn to the Race Rocks Taxonomy and Image File
pearsonlogo2_f2The Race Rocks taxonomy is a collaborative venture originally started with the Biology and Environmental Systems students of Lester Pearson College UWC. It now also has contributions added by Faculty, Staff, Volunteers and Observers on the remote control webcams. —–——- PC yr 31