Laminaria agardhii
A brown kelp with finger-like blades and a strong holdfast.
Last updated
Laminaria agardhii is a brown kelp distinguished by a sturdy holdfast and blade segments that resemble fingers. This species is primarily located in the northeastern Atlantic Ocean, with a range extending from Massachusetts in the United States northward to Baffin Bay in the Canadian Arctic. It grows in the sublittoral zone, adapted to tidal rocks at depths between 0.5 and 3 meters. A strong stem, up to 0.5 meters long, anchors the plant to these rocks via a tough, fibrous holdfast.
The blade is narrow and long, significantly longer than the stem, reaching about 30 centimeters in width and 3 meters in length. Reproduction occurs between September and April, peaking in January, through sporangia on the blade surface. These sporangia release flagellated zoospores that disperse widely. The resulting gametophytes form a chain-like series of cells that develop into a new organism.
Medicinally, Laminaria agardhii is valued for its high iodine content, which supports thyroid function. Members of the Laminariaceae family are also used to induce labor: a piece of laminaria placed in the cervix absorbs water, expands, and gently dilates the opening.
Scientific classification
- CladeEukaryota
- CladeSar<!-- Do not change Sar to SAR. The consensus was to use Sar in the taxonomy template. -->
- CladeStramenopiles
- ClassPhaeophyceae
- OrderLaminariales
- FamilyLaminariaceae
- GenusLaminaria
- SpeciesLaminaria agardhii
Named by Kjellman
Close relatives
Other species of Laminaria with a Codexery entry.
- Laminaria abyssalis Laminaria abyssalis
- Laminaria digitata Laminaria digitata
- Laminaria hyperborea Laminaria hyperborea
- Laminaria nigripes Laminaria nigripes
- Laminaria ochroleuca Laminaria ochroleuca
- Laminaria sinclairii Laminaria sinclairii
Sources: Wikipedia taxobox: Laminaria agardhii (CC BY-SA 4.0) · order, family and genus agree with WoRMS AphiaID 146304 (CC BY 4.0)
How big is it?
Largest length in the source, 0.3 m, next to a 1.8 m person.
Diagram: drawn by Codexery, schematic shapes to scale (not a likeness). Length: Wikipedia: Laminaria agardhii
Where the laminaria agardhii has been recorded
Each dot is a place where the species has been observed and reported (337 records, half-degree grid) — not a modelled range. 30 inland records left out (institution coordinates). 1 isolated far-off record not drawn.
Map: drawn by Codexery. Data: GBIF occurrence search (records CC0 / CC BY) · Natural Earth basemap (public domain)
More in Brown Macroalgae and Kelp
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Laminaria agardhii (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Classification: the source article's taxobox; order, family and genus checked against WoRMS, the World Register of Marine Species (CC BY 4.0).
- Occurrence records: GBIF (CC0 / CC BY). Basemap: Natural Earth (public domain).
- Word definitions: the Codexery glossary, each quoted from its Wikipedia article.
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