Lesser grass-kelp (Blidingia minima)

Classification (WoRMS)

Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Plantae · Phylum: Chlorophyta · Class: Ulvophyceae · Order: Ulvales · Family: Kornmanniaceae · Genus: Blidingia.

Accepted name: Blidingia minima · Authority: (Nägeli ex Kützing) Kylin, 1947 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 145950.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Blidingia nana (Sommerfelt) Bliding, 1963; Enteromorpha coarctata Kjellman, 1897; Enteromorpha compressa var. minima (Nägeli ex Hauck) Hamel, 1931; Enteromorpha micrococca f. tortuosa J.Agardh, 1883; Enteromorpha minima Nägeli ex Kützing, 1849; Enteromorpha minima f. elongata Schiffner; Enteromorpha minima var. capillaris Schiffner; Enteromorpha minima var. elongata Schiffner; Enteromorpha nana (Sommerfelt) Sjöstedt, 1939; Enteromorpha nana var. minima (Nägeli ex Hauck) Sjöstedt, 1939; Ulva intestinalis var. nana Sommerfelt, 1826.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=145950 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Biology and life history (SeaLifeBase)

Measured values published by SeaLifeBase for Blidingia minima. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.

Habitat zone: epiphytic.

Source: SeaLifeBase species summary (SpecCode 125959) — https://www.sealifebase.se/summary/Blidingia-minima.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

4,044 georeferenced occurrence records for Blidingia minima are published through GBIF from 35 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 213 distinct locations from a sample of 3,000 records, omitting 249 inland records that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.

Most records by country or area: United States of America (1,339); United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (532); Netherlands (295); Spain (281); Faroe Islands (210).

The full country table, WoRMS marine regions and the sampling notes are on this species' Distribution page.

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2645670) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2645670&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=145950 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

The species is 1 - 10 cm long by 1 - 2 mm wide and is light green in colour. It fronds are tubular with it cell arrangement being irregular and 10 in diameter. Stellate chloroplasts also exist. The tubes rise in groups from the center. It thalli grow as clusters which carry cylindrical and hollow tubes which arise from discoidal cushion. The tubes are 1 - 20 mm long and 2 mm wide. Thallus cells are 7 wide and are angular.

The type locality of this species is Helgoland, Germany. The species is found throughout eastern part of Asia in such countries as China, Japan, Korea and eastern part of Russia. It is also found in Azores, Canada, Norway, South Africa, United States, and various gulfs, seas and oceans, such as Gulf of Maine and Gulf of Mexico and in Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and Wadden Sea. Besides this places it have a type locality which is and is also common in Ireland and Great Britain. It was also recorded in Queensland, Australia.

In England, the species was recorded from East Sussex.

It is found growing on cobble, boulders, bedrocks, barnacles, driftwood and even on different algae species throughout the semi-protected and protected areas.

Blidingia minima is considered to be a food for periwinkles.

Source: Wikipedia: Blidingia minima — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blidingia_minima (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.

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