Kelp - Prominent Species

Prominent Species

• Bull-head kelp, Nereocystis luetkeana, a northwestern American species. Used by coastal indigenous peoples to create fishing nets.
• Giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera, the largest seaweed. Found in the Pacific coast of North America and South America.
• Kombu, Laminaria japonica and others, several edible species of kelp found in Japan.

Species of Laminaria in the British Isles;

• Laminaria digitata (Hudson) J.V. Lamouroux (Oarweed; Tangle)
• Laminaria hyperborea (Gunnerus) Foslie (Curvie)
• Laminaria ochroleuca Bachelot de la Pylaie
• Laminaria saccharina (Linnaeus) J.V.Lamouroux (sea belt; sugar kelp; sugarwack)

Species of Laminaria worldwide, listing of species at AlgaeBase:

• Laminaria agardhii (NE. America)
• Laminaria angustata (Japan)
• Laminaria bongardina Postels et Ruprecht (Bering Sea to California)
• Laminaria cuneifolia (NE. America)
• Laminaria dentigera Klellm. (California - America)
• Laminaria digitata (NE. America)
• Laminaria ephemera Setchell (Sitka, Alaska, to Monterey County, California - America)
• Laminaria farlowii Setchell (Santa Cruz, California, to Baja California - America)
• Laminaria groenlandica (NE. America)
• Laminaria japonica (Japan), synonym of Saccharina japonica
• Laminaria longicruris (NE. America)
• Laminaria nigripes (NE. America)
• Laminaria ontermedia (NE. America)
• Laminaria pallida Greville ex J. Agardh (South Africa)
• Laminaria platymeris (NE. America)
• Laminaria saccharina (Linnaeus) Lamouroux (Aleutian Islands, Alaska to southern California America)
• Laminaria setchellii Silva (Aleutian Islands, Alaska to Baja California America)
• Laminaria sinclairii (Harvey ex Hooker f. ex Harvey) Farlow, Anderson et Eaton (Hope Island, British Columbia to Los Angeles, California - America)
• Laminaria solidungula (NE. America)
• Laminaria stenophylla (NE. America)

Other species in the Laminariales that may be considered as kelp:

• Alaria marginata Post. & Rupr. (Alaska and California - America)
• Costaria costata (C.Ag.) Saunders (Japan; Alaska, California - America)
• Ecklonia brevipes J. Agardh (Australia; New Zealand)
• Ecklonia maxima (Osbeck) Papenfuss (South Africa)
• Ecklonia radiata (C.Agardh) J. Agardh (Australia; Tasmania; New Zealand; South Africa)
• Eisena arborea Aresch. (Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Montrey, Santa Catalina Island, California - America)
• Egregia menziesii (Turn.) Aresch.
• Hedophyllum sessile (C.Ag.) Setch (Alaska, California - America)
• Macrocystis angustifolia Bory (Australia; Tasmania and South Africa)
• Pleurophycus gardneri Setch. & Saund. (Alaska, California - America)
• Pterygophora californica Rupr. (Vancouver Island, British Columbia to Bahia del Ropsario, Baja California and California - America)
• Saccharina japonica (Japan)

Non-Laminariales species that may be considered as kelp:

• Durvillea antarctica, Fucales (New Zealand, South America, and Australia)
• Durvillea willana, Fucales (New Zealand)
• Durvillaea potatorum (Labillardière) Areschoug, Fucales (Tasmania; Australia)