Kappaphycus striatum (Solieriaceae)

Kappaphycus striatum is a tough, fleshy, firm marine algae ("seaweed") up to 10 inches in length. Its heavy thalli (plural of thallus, a plant body that is not differentiated into root, stem or leaf) are less than 1/2 inch in diameter. It is frequently and irregularly branched, with major branches relatively straight, with no secondary branches near the tips. Spines, blunt or sharp, are in rows or like teeth along the branches. Dark green, or reddish in shaded areas, it branches in variable patterns. It lives in shallow subtidal reef flats and reef edges, 15 to 50 feet deep. It floats as unattached fragments in shallow or deep waters, sometimes in large, moving mats, or is loosely attached to broken coral. 

Taxonomy & nomenclature

Impacts

Images

Distribution

(Kappaphycus ) spp. overview from the Hawaii Invasive Species Council (HISC)
Kappaphycus ' description, impacts, images, and distribution in Hawaii are from HISC's high-profile invasive pests site.

Books

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The content of this page is based on information last generated on 03 November 2009 by PT. The template for this page was created on 15 March 2004 by EMS, and was last updated on 20 February 2006 by PT.