Phylum: Phaeophyta

Class: Phaeophyceae

Order: Laminariales

Family: Alariaceae

Pterygophora californica (Ruprecht)

Description: This plant has a large stout holdfast of branched root-like structures, and a woody stipe up to 2 m. long and 2 cm. in diameter. The stipe is terete below and flattened at the apex. A terminal flat, smooth blade arises from the apex of the stipe; it is linear, 6-10 cm. wide, 60-90 cm. long, and tapers in the attachment region. Sporophylls are pinnately arranged along the two sides of the flattened portion of the stipe. The sporophylls are linear, approximately the same shape and size as the terminal blade; up to 20 occur on each side.

Habitat: On rocks in the upper subtidal zone and down to a depth of about 5 fathoms.

Pacific Coast Distribution: British Columbia to Mexico.

Robert Scagel, 1972

Star-shaped scars left from sea urchin bites	Strongylocentrotus purpuratus a kelp grazer	S. droebachiensis another grazer on P. californica sporophylls
L. saccharina and a brooding anemone on the stipe of P. californica	L. saccharina and other kelp species on the stipe of P. californica	More scarring left from the Aristotle’s lanterns of sea urchins
An epiphytic rhodophyte	Another epiphytic rhodophyte	A third epiphytic rhodophyte species
Several epiphytic N. luetkeana near the apex of a P. californica	Many young N. luetkeana at the apex of a P. californica individual	Author and website where this link will take you to see a Quicktime movie