Phylum: Phaeophyta

Class: Phaeophyceae

Order: Laminariales

Family: Alariaceae

Alaria nana (Schrader)

Description: The plant is olive brown to yellowish-brown in colour with a conspicuous blade (eroded at maturity), stipe, and holdfast. The holdfast is made up of short, firm root-like structures and is 3-7 cm. long, 5-8 mm. in diameter, merging into a slightly compressed rachis 2-4 cm. long. The rachis in turn merges into the blade, which is linear, tapering gradually to the apex and abruptly to the rachis; the blade is 40-60 cm. long and 3-8 cm. wide with a conspicuous, solid percurrent midrib 4-6 mm. wide.

Habitat: On rocks in the middle and upper intertidal zones in exposed areas.

Pacific Coast Distribution: Alaska to California.

Robert Scagel, 1972

Alaria nana desiccating at low tide	A. nana exposed at low tide	The holdfasts of A. nana attached to barnacles
A. nana fronds at low tide	A. nana in the foreground	A. nana at back. Nereocystis in front

Phylum: Phaeophyta

Class: Phaeophyceae

Order: Laminariales

Family: Alariaceae

Alaria marginata (Postels and Ruprecht)

Description: This plant is olive brown to rich brown in colour with a conspicuous blade, stipe, and holdfast. The holdfast is small and stout, composed of branched root-like structures. The stipe is cylindrical, about 3 mm. in diameter, 3-5 cm. long, merging into a flattened rachis that is about twice as wide as the stipe. The rachis in turn merges into the blade, which is linear, 15-20 cm. wide, 2.5-3 m. long, with a cuneate base, and has a prominent, solid percurrent midrib 5-22 mm. wide.

Habitat: On rocks in the lower intertidal and upper subtidal zones.

Pacific Coast Distribution: Alaska to California.

Robert Scagel, 1972

Alaria marginata full specimen	A. marginata holdfast	A. marginata at low tide
A. marginata midrib	A. marginata at middle-left. A. nana at top-right