Seaweed Gallery

This is a quick visual reference for common seaweeds in Cornwall, UK. Most photos were taken in my regular snorkel spot in Falmouth (using a Canon G16 or an Olympus OMD5 mark2). Please note that this gallery is far from complete, and even common species are still missing (as there are hundreds of species, this gallery will never be complete!). I am adding more species as I find them.

For correct identification, it is often necessary to study seaweeds in detail (using a hand lens or even a microscope). It is not my aim to publish anything resembling a proper guide and I will not upload any detailed images or even text. I have not added information on site or date either (uploading these images was tedious enough as it was!). However, all photos have been posted on the blog before, and you can search for them in their original posts (with more information on context) using tags. The sole purpose is to complement other resources by providing photographs of seaweeds underwater. I have not uploaded species of which I am not sure, but it is possible that I have made a few mistakes (please comment or email if you spot any!). I have posted unknowns at the end.

For much more information on seaweeds in the UK, including on distribution, life-cycle and commonly confused species, I highly recommend the “Seaweeds of Britain and Ireland” guide by Bunker, Brodie, Maggs and Bunker. This is the best photographic guide out there and is very reasonable priced, get it here! I also highly recommend aphotomarine for identification of many Cornish species, including seaweeds, as well as the website algaebase.

If you are interested in using these photos for non-commercial, educational purposes, feel free to go ahead, just attribute them to me: Michiel Vos. You can reach me at m.vos@exeter.ac.uk.

Pink Plates (Mesophyllum lichenoides)

Little Gem Paint Weed (Titanoderma pustulatum)

a coralline algae species with reproductive structures

Coral Weed (Corallina officinalis)

Slender-Beaded Coral Weed (Jania rubens)

Under Tongue Weed (Hypoglossum hypoglossoides)

Sea Beach (Delesseria sanguinea)

Clawed Fork Weed (Furcellaria lumbricalis)

Discoid Fork Weed (Polyides rotunda)

Discoid Fork Weed (left) and Clawed Fork Weed (right)

Cock’s Comb (Plocamium cartilagineum)

Little Fat Sausage Weed (Champia parvula)

Red Grape Weed (Gastroclonium ovatum)

Juicy Whorl Weed (Chylocladia verticillata)

Red Rags (Dilsea carnosa)

Dumont’s Tubular Weed (umontia contorta)

Dumont’s Tubular Weed (Dumontia contorta)

Wright’s Golden Membrane Weed (Chrysymenia wrightii)

Siphoned Feather Weed (Heterosiphonia plumosa)

Black Scour Weed (Ahnfeltia plicata)

Devil’s Tongue Weed (Grateloupia turuturu)

Solier’s Red String Weed (Soliera chordalis)

Dulse (Palmaria palmata)

Iridescent Drachiella (Drachiella spectabilis)

False Eyelash Weed (Calliblepharis jubata))

Spotted Scarf Weed (Nitophyllum punctatum)

Banded Pincer Weed (Ceramium sp.)

Beautiful Fan Weed (Callophyllis laciniata)

Grape Pip Weed (Mastocarpus stellatus)

Irish Moss (Chondrus crispus)

Asparagopsis armata (Harpoon Weed)

Asparagopsis armata ‘Falkenbergia stage’ (Harpoon Weed)

Bonnemaison’s Hook Weed (Bonnemaisonia hamifera)

Harpoon Weed (bottom) and Bonnemaison’s Hook Weed (top)

Rounded Fern Weed (Osmundea truncata)

Laver (Porphyra sp.)

Pale Patch Laver (Pyropia leucosticta)

Spiny Straggle Weed (Gelidium spinosum)

Reduced Straggle Weed (Gelidium attenuatum) (?)

Berry Wart Cress (Sphaerococcus coronopifolius)

Top Left: Unknown, Top: Plocanium cartilagineum, Top Right: Chrysymenia wrightii, Bottom Left: Cryptopleura ramosa, Bottom Right: Soliera chordalis.

Sea Flax Weed (Halopteris scoparium)

Green Sponge Fingers (Codium spp.)

Furbellows (Saccorhiza polyschides)

Sugar Kelp (Saccharina latissima)

Golden Kelp (Laminaria ochroleuca)

Mermaid’s Tresses (Chorda filum)

Thong Weed (Himanthalia elongata)

Brown Tuning Fork Weed (Bifurcaria bifurcata)

Hairy Sand Weed (Cladostephus spongiosus)

Wire Weed (Sargassum muticum)

Egg Wrack (Ascophyllum nodosum)

Bushy Rainbow Wrack (Cystoseira tamariscifolia)

Bushy Berry Wrack (Treptacantha baccata)

Thin Sausage Weed (Asperococcus fistulosus)

Desmarest’s Flattened Weed (Desmarestia ligulata)

unknown

Gracilaria gracilis?

unknown

unknown

An Bollenessor

marine life in Cornwall

Seaweed Gallery