Home > Marine > Seaweeds > Brown Seaweeds > Macrocystis pyrifera

Updated 12/9/2012

Family Laminariaceae

NORTHEAST PACIFIC

Macrocystis pyrifera

Long Point, Catalina, CA, 20 feet

 

 

Rock Quarry, Catalina, CA, 30 feet

 

Goldfish Bowl, Anacapa, CA, 15 feet

Goldfish Bowl, Anacapa, CA, 15 feet

GIANT PERENNIAL KELP

Abundant on rocky reefs.  Grows up to 14 inches per day.  Holdfast is pear-shaped and is the only part that survives during winter storms.  Preyed upon by sea urchins.  The most common large kelp south of Central California.  Alaska to Mexico; Peru to Chile; Tasmania & New Zealand.