Sargassum, Wireweed

Sargassum muticum

Color: Brown (Golden)
Shape: Branched (Profusely)
Texture: Bushy
Size: Up to 6’+
Zone: Intertidal to Subtidal
Range: Alaska to Mexico

Description: A cascade of tiny blades with on a long, thin stipe with many branches, dotted with small, round, bead-like vesicles. The stipe is attached to a small disc-like holdfast. The blades are less that 1 inch with toothed edges. Sargassum sometimes forms floating masses and prefers wave-sheltered areas.

Edibility: Edible

Distinctive characteristics: Aggressive invasive species.

Collection notes: 

Phylum: Phaeophyta (Brown Algae)
Previous names: Sargassum kjellmaniaum f. muticum 
Similar species: Sargassum natans (of the Sargasso Sea), Cystoseira geminata, which has pointy floats, in addition to round ones.

Rockweed, Bladderwrack, Popweed

Fucus gardneri

Color: Brown (Yellowish to Olive)
Shape: Branching, Pod-like
Texture: Bumpy 
Size: Up to 2’
Zone: Intertidal  
Range: Alaska to California

Description: This abundant seaweed is distinguished by the mitten-shaped hollow liquid or gas-filled pods at the ends of mature branches. The pods have a bumpy exterior. Rockweed has a disc shaped holdfast and half-inch blades with a midrib that branch off two by two. Young branches may appear flat and without the pods on the ends. Rockweed prefers rocky terrain. 

Edibility: Young tips are tasty fresh or blanched. Can also be dried. Eat in moderation. 

Distinctive characteristics: If you squeeze the mature pods, they will make a popping sound. 

Collection notes:

Phylum: Phaeophyta (Brown Algae)
Previous names: Fucus distichus, Fucus evanescens
Similar species: Fucus spiralis, Pelvetiopsis limitata (Dwarf Rockweed)

Sarcodiotheca gaudichaudii

Sarcodiotheca gaudichaudii

Color: Red
Shape: Branched
Texture: Bumpy, Bushy
Size: Up to 1’+
Zone: Intertidal to Subtidal
Range: Alaska to Mexico

Description: This bright red seaweed can look tree-shaped, with longer branches at the bottom tapering to shorter branches at the top, around a central axis. It has a disc-shaped holdfast and a warty texture. 

Edibility: 

Distinctive characteristics: 

Collection notes: 

Phylum: Rhodophyta (Red Algae)
Previous names: Neoagardhiella baileyi, Agardhiella tenera
Similar species: Gracilariopsis sjoestedtii (Red Spaghetti)

Red Spaghetti

Gracilariopsis sjoestedtii

Color: Red
Shape: Branching, Tube-like
Texture: Smooth
Size: Up to 3’
Zone: Intertidal
Range: British Columbia to Mexico

Description: Small, disc-shaped holdfast with round, noodle-like branches. Grows attached to small rocks or buried in the sand.

Edibility: Edible

Distinctive characteristics: Used to make agar agar.

Collection notes:

Phylum: Rhodophyta (Red Algae)
Previous names: Gracilaria sjoestedtii
Similar species: Gracilariopsis lemaneiformis Gracilaria verrucosa, Gracilaria pacifica, Neoagardhiella baileyi

Red Cellophane

Porphyra cuneiformis 

Color: Red
Shape: Sheet
Texture: Smooth (Silky)
Size: Up to 6”+
Zone: Intertidal to Subtidal
Range: Alaska to California

Description: Similar to Nori, this seaweed is sheet-like with a tiny holdfast. It may appear ruffly and grow in clusters. It is very thin and the texture is smooth and silky.

Edibility: Edible

Distinctive characteristics: 

Collection notes: 

Phylum: Rhodophyta (Red Algae)
Previous names: Porphyra miniata forma cuneiformisPorphyra miniata var. cuneiformis

Similar species: Porphyra abyssicola, Porphyra amplissima, Porphyra miniata, Porphyra tenuissima, Porphyra perforata, Porphyra abbottae

Rainbow-leaf, Splendid Iridescent Seaweed

Mazzaella splendens

Color: Red (Purpleish, Iridescent)
Shape: Sheet
Texture: Smooth
Size: Up to 3’+
Zone: Intertidal to Subtidal
Range: Alaska to Mexico

Description: This seaweed appears sheet-like but is an irregular blade attached to a very short, small stipe and holdfast. It is distinguished by its iridescent sheen when wet.

Edibility: Edible

Distinctive characteristics: Used to make carrageen

Collection notes:

Phylum: Rhodophyta (Red Algae)
Previous names: Iridaea cordata, Iridae splendens, Gigartina cordata, Iridophhycus splendens, Iridophycus cordatum, Iridophycus fulgens
Similar species: Several similar species including Mazzaella linearis and Mazzaella cornucopiae

Nori, Laver, Black Seaweed

Porphyra abbottae, Porphyra perforata and other similar species

Color: Brown (Greenish, Purpleish or Nearly Black)
Shape: Sheet
Texture: Smooth
Size: Up to 1’
Zone: Intertidal
Range: Alaska to Mexico

Description: Thin, nearly transparent sheets grow clinging on rock. Tiny holdfast. Can appear ruffly. Porphyra abbottae is slightly longer and narrower; Porphyra perforata may have small holes. 

Edibility: Delicious! This is the seaweed used to make sushi and is eaten widely in Japan and throughout the world. Porphyra abbottae is considered the tastier species in our area. 

Distinctive characteristics: 

Collection notes: Be sure to rise off critters living in this seaweed. 

Phylum: Rhodophyta (Red Algae)
Previous names:
Similar species: Porphyra abbottae, Porphyra torta, Porphyra nereocystis, Porphyra perforata, Porphyra laciniata, Porphyra pseudolinearis, Porphyra kurogii, Porphyra fuciola, Porphyra cuneiformis. Several similar species. Some of the blades are round, others are long and narrow. All are edible. It is also similar to the edible Smithora naiadum that grows on eel grass.

Green Tuft, Green Ball

Cladophora columbiana

Color: Green (Bright)
Shape: Carpet-like
Texture: Furry
Size: 2”
Zone: Upper Intertidal 
Range: Alaska to Mexico

Description: This short furry-looking seaweed grows in clumps on rocks in the upper intertidal zone and looks similar to moss. 

Edibility: 

Distinctive characteristics: 

Collection notes: 

Phylum: Chlorophyta (Green Algae)
Previous names: 
Cladophora trichotoma, Cladophora hemisphaerica
Similar species:

Green String Lettuce

Enteromorpha linza

Color: Green (Bright)
Shape: Irregular Blade
Texture: Smooth
Size: Up to 20”
Zone: Intertidal
Range: Alaska to Mexico

Description: This bright green seaweed is thin, long and narrow, and ruffly at the edges. The blades are around an inch wide and are attached at the base to a small holdfast. Prefers sheltered areas. 

Edibility: Edible

Distinctive characteristics: Technically, this seaweed is a tube that has been flattened. You may be able to detect the tube at the base before it becomes a flat blade. 

Collection notes: Be sure the area is free of pollutants. 

Phylum: Chlorophyta (Green Algae)
Previous names: Ulva linza
Similar species: Enteromorpha intestinalis, Ulva (Sea Lettuce) species

Green Rope

Acrosiphonia mertensii

Color: Green
Shape: Rope-like
Texture: Furry
Size: Up to 10”+
Zone: Intertidal 
Range: Alaska to California

Description: This seaweed grows attached to rocks or other seaweed and drapes down like ropes. The ropes are made up of tangled filaments and look like dread-locks. 

Edibility: 

Distinctive characteristics: 

Collection notes: 

Phylum: Chlorophyta (Green Algae)
Previous names: Conferva coalita, Spongomorpha coalita, Codiolum petrocelidis
Similar species: There are many similar species that are only distinguishable with a microscope, including Acrosiphonia coalita and Acrosiphonia spinescens.