Turkish towel • Chondracanthus exasperatus
{Chondracanthus = spiny Chondrus}
Identification
This red seaweed usually has a single large blade arising form a short stipe. This blade is thick and somewhat rubbery, and is covered in small spiny papillae which give it a distinctly towel-like texture. This main blade reaches 50 cm long and 20 cm wide and has an irregular shape that narrows at the top. It is generally undivided, but may become tattered over time (as in top right photo). It varies in colour, and can be pinkish or purplish, dark or pale red, brownish, or yellow-green - depending on exposure and location along its range. The stipe, which leads to a small discoidal holdfast, may also bear a few smaller blades (to 1 cm long).
Habitat & Range
Turkish towel attaches to rock in the low intertidal and subtidal to 18 m. It grows best in fairly exposed habitats, but can also be found in more sheltered areas. Its range extends from Sitka Sound in Alaska to Baja California.
Similar Species
The foliose form of Turkish washcloth (Mastocarpus papillatus, and other Mastocarpus spp.) is also covered in papillae, but is much smaller, has branched blades, and is accompanied by its crustose 'tar spot' form.
Intriguing Info
Exposure has an impact on blade thickness: Turkish towel has thinner blades when growing in sheltered habitats than in exposed areas, where the blades are thicker and even become somewhat stiff.
Check out the UBC Botany Photo of the Day Turkish Towel entry for more information on its pigmentation and texture.
iNaturalist
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/127153-Chondracanthus-exasperatus
This red seaweed usually has a single large blade arising form a short stipe. This blade is thick and somewhat rubbery, and is covered in small spiny papillae which give it a distinctly towel-like texture. This main blade reaches 50 cm long and 20 cm wide and has an irregular shape that narrows at the top. It is generally undivided, but may become tattered over time (as in top right photo). It varies in colour, and can be pinkish or purplish, dark or pale red, brownish, or yellow-green - depending on exposure and location along its range. The stipe, which leads to a small discoidal holdfast, may also bear a few smaller blades (to 1 cm long).
Habitat & Range
Turkish towel attaches to rock in the low intertidal and subtidal to 18 m. It grows best in fairly exposed habitats, but can also be found in more sheltered areas. Its range extends from Sitka Sound in Alaska to Baja California.
Similar Species
The foliose form of Turkish washcloth (Mastocarpus papillatus, and other Mastocarpus spp.) is also covered in papillae, but is much smaller, has branched blades, and is accompanied by its crustose 'tar spot' form.
Intriguing Info
Exposure has an impact on blade thickness: Turkish towel has thinner blades when growing in sheltered habitats than in exposed areas, where the blades are thicker and even become somewhat stiff.
Check out the UBC Botany Photo of the Day Turkish Towel entry for more information on its pigmentation and texture.
iNaturalist
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/127153-Chondracanthus-exasperatus
References
Druehl, L. 2000. Pacific Seaweeds: A guide to common seaweeds of the west coast. Harbour Publishing: Madeira Park, BC, Canada. P. 110.
Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. (2013). Chondracanthus exasperatus (Harvey & Bailey) Hughey. AlgaeBase. National University of Ireland, Galway. Accessed 06/08/2014.
Lindberg, M. and Lindstrom, S. (2010). Chondracanthus exasperatus. Seaweeds of Alaska. Accessed 06/08/2014.
O'Clair, R. and Lindstrom, S. Chondracanthus exasperatus (Harvey et Bailey) Hughey. 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 06/08/2014.
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. P. 110.
Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. (2013). Chondracanthus exasperatus (Harvey & Bailey) Hughey. AlgaeBase. National University of Ireland, Galway. Accessed 06/08/2014.
Lindberg, M. and Lindstrom, S. (2010). Chondracanthus exasperatus. Seaweeds of Alaska. Accessed 06/08/2014.
O'Clair, R. and Lindstrom, S. Chondracanthus exasperatus (Harvey et Bailey) Hughey. 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 06/08/2014.
Authors and editors of page
Kelly Fretwell and Brian Starzomski (2014).