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Mazzaella splendens (Splendid iridescent seaweed)
Copyright © 2007 Jan Holmes
This species of red seaweed forms broad deep purple blades that look oily or iridescent when wet (M. splendens was formerly known as Iridaea splendens). Blades are ~ 20 cm. (8 in.) long and somewhat rubbery feeling when stretched. It prefers semi-exposed lower intertidal habitats where it anchors to rocks with a small discoid holdfast.
Spore producing and gamete producing phases are morphologically similar but in summer gametophytes are more abundant, whereas in winter the spore producing phase is more abundant. Another iridescent species, M. linearis, is common on very exposed outer coast areas. It grows in clusters of long iridescent ribbons.
This
page was created by Jan Holmes on 1/25/07.
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