Hidden rib , ruffled red seaweed, • Cryptopleura ruprechtiana
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Photos by Julia Fisher (left) and Jenn Burt (right).
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Identification
This red alga has a thin, fan-shaped blade divided into many lobes; broader lobe divisions near the base are deep, while divisions closer to the blade tip get narrower. Veins are visible along the rose red blade: the branching veins radiate from the branching midrib at base of the blade and become more faint towards the tips. A dense fringe of tiny bladelets often lines the margins of the blades, giving it a frilly appearance. Hidden rib can be over 20 cm (up to 50 cm) in height and is often wider than it is tall.
Habitat & Range
Hidden rib is found in the lower intertidal and subtidal of semi-exposed to semi-protected shores. Its range extends from from southern Alaska to northern Mexico.
Similar Species
Some marine botanists separate larger Californian specimens with thicker midribs as a separate species, Botryoglossum farlowianum, although this division does not appear to be commonly accepted. Red sea fan species (Callophyllis spp.) are fan-shaped but only rarely found in the low intertidal (are mostly subtidal). Red ribbon species Palmaria spp.) are also thin and can be fan-shaped.
This red alga has a thin, fan-shaped blade divided into many lobes; broader lobe divisions near the base are deep, while divisions closer to the blade tip get narrower. Veins are visible along the rose red blade: the branching veins radiate from the branching midrib at base of the blade and become more faint towards the tips. A dense fringe of tiny bladelets often lines the margins of the blades, giving it a frilly appearance. Hidden rib can be over 20 cm (up to 50 cm) in height and is often wider than it is tall.
Habitat & Range
Hidden rib is found in the lower intertidal and subtidal of semi-exposed to semi-protected shores. Its range extends from from southern Alaska to northern Mexico.
Similar Species
Some marine botanists separate larger Californian specimens with thicker midribs as a separate species, Botryoglossum farlowianum, although this division does not appear to be commonly accepted. Red sea fan species (Callophyllis spp.) are fan-shaped but only rarely found in the low intertidal (are mostly subtidal). Red ribbon species Palmaria spp.) are also thin and can be fan-shaped.
References
Druehl, L. 2000. Pacific Seaweeds: A guide to common seaweeds of the west coast. Harbour Publishing: Madeira Park, BC, Canada. Pp. 112-113.
Lamb, A., and Hanby, B. (2005). Marine Life of the Pacific Northwest [electronic version]. Madeira Park, BC: Harbour Publishing.
Lindberg, M. and Lindstrom, S. (2010). Cryptopleura ruprechtiana. Seaweeds of Alaska. Accessed 03/12/2014.
O'Clair, R. and Lindstrom, S. Cryptopleura ruprechtiana (J. Agardh) Kylin. In Klinkenberg, Brian. (Ed.). E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Plants of British Columbia. Lab for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver. Accessed 03/12/2014.
Authors and editors of page
Kelly Fretwell and Brian Starzomski (2014).
Druehl, L. 2000. Pacific Seaweeds: A guide to common seaweeds of the west coast. Harbour Publishing: Madeira Park, BC, Canada. Pp. 112-113.
Lamb, A., and Hanby, B. (2005). Marine Life of the Pacific Northwest [electronic version]. Madeira Park, BC: Harbour Publishing.
Lindberg, M. and Lindstrom, S. (2010). Cryptopleura ruprechtiana. Seaweeds of Alaska. Accessed 03/12/2014.
O'Clair, R. and Lindstrom, S. Cryptopleura ruprechtiana (J. Agardh) Kylin. In Klinkenberg, Brian. (Ed.). E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Plants of British Columbia. Lab for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver. Accessed 03/12/2014.
Authors and editors of page
Kelly Fretwell and Brian Starzomski (2014).
