Brown algae

at Stångehuvud

To algae in the shore zone

To rock shores

Bladder wrack

Bladder wrack is a common species of brown algae in the top water layer down to about 1,5 meters at the rocky shores of Stångehuvud. It is perennial and can handle both strong wave exposure, as well as more sheltered environments. The species has typical bladders containing air and are attached in pair.
The leafy lobes have a central nerve that reaches all the way to the top of the shoots.

The specimens of the photo are fertile. 

 

 

 
Bladder wrack.

Knotted wrack

Knotted wrack is another common perennial species of brown alga at for example Kramkistesund, from the surface down to about two meters deep. This species is usually from a few centimeters up to one meter long. It lives on the cliffs where water circulation is good, but where it also is protected from powerful waves. The species is provided with quite large bladders. Unlike the bladder wrack the floating bladders of knotted wrack are not in pairs.

 
Knotted wrack has larger floating bladders than bladder wrack. They do not sit in pairs as in bladder wrack.

A relatively new species in the algae flora of Stångehuvud is japweed.