Habitat and range ³

Postelsia palmaeformis is a small kelp that ranges British Columbia, Canada to Morro Bay, California, USA. This species is a fugitive species that inhabits space that opens up in mussel beds. They are mostly found on very wave exposed shores.

Morphology and identification ³

Postelsia is a small golden colored kelp with a thick cylindrical stipe and a hapterous holdfast. Simple branches from the stipe each give rise to a single blade. Blades have longitudinal grooves and toothed margins. This kelp is can be distinguished from Eisenia arborea by its shorter height and lack of a bifurcated stipe.

Sources and Credits

1. (c) intertidalecologist, all rights reserved, uploaded by intertidalecologist
2. (c) Ken-ichi Ueda, some rights reserved (CC BY), http://www.flickr.com/photos/18024068@N00/6274154358
3. (c) intertidalecologist, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

More Info

• iNat taxon page
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)

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