Lesser grass-kelp (Blidingia minima)
Source-cited species reference: taxonomy from WoRMS, biology from SeaLifeBase, occurrence map from GBIF, description from Wikipedia.
Last updated
Distribution map plotted from GBIF.org occurrence records; basemap Natural Earth 110m · GBIF records CC0 / CC BY; Natural Earth public domain
Blidingia minima is a species of seaweed in the Kornmanniaceae family. It was described by Johann Kylin in 1947.
Scientific classification
- CladeEukaryota
- CladeArchaeplastida
- CladeViridiplantae
- ClassUlvophyceae
- OrderUlvales
- FamilyKornmanniaceae
- GenusBlidingia
- SpeciesBlidingia minima
Named by (Nägeli ex Kützing) Kylin
Close relatives
Other species of Blidingia with a Codexery entry.
- Blidingia marginata Blidingia marginata
Sources: Wikipedia taxobox: Blidingia minima (CC BY-SA 4.0) · order, family and genus agree with WoRMS AphiaID 145950 (CC BY 4.0)
Where the lesser grass-kelp (blidingia minima) has been recorded
Each dot is a place where the species has been observed and reported (4,044 records, half-degree grid) — not a modelled range. 161 inland records left out (institution coordinates). 3 isolated far-off records not drawn.
Map: drawn by Codexery. Data: GBIF occurrence search (records CC0 / CC BY) · Natural Earth basemap (public domain) · place coordinates: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Quick Facts
- Scientific name
- Blidingia minima
- Authority
- (Nägeli ex Kützing) Kylin, 1947
- Family
- Kornmanniaceae
- Order
- Ulvales
- Habitat zone
- epiphytic
- Gbif occurrence records
- 4,044
Facts from the source article.
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Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Blidingia nana (Sommerfelt) Bliding, 1963; Enteromorpha coarctata Kjellman, 1897; Enteromorpha compressa var.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 2026-09-25.
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 2026-09-25.
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 2026-09-25.
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 2026-09-25.
Related in Lesser grass-kelp
Links follow this subject's own source article.
Elsewhere in Lesser grass-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: Blidingia minima (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).
- Biology values: SeaLifeBase species summary (CC BY-NC 3.0, non-commercial).
- Word definitions: the , each quoted from its Wikipedia article.
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