Saccorhiza polyschides, common name Furbellow, is a large brown algae

Brown algae

The Phaeophyceae or brown algae , is a large group of mostly marine multicellular algae, including many seaweeds of colder Northern Hemisphere waters. They play an important role in marine environments, both as food and for the habitats they form...

 of the lower shore and is the largest seaweed found in Europe.

Description

S polyschides is a large and bulky seaweed growing to 5 metres long. The holdfast is a large, hollow, knobbly structure. The stipe is long, tough, leathery and rigid and is several centimetres wide. Near the base the margin forms several broad, wavy frills. These ruffles tend to dissipate wave energy and lessen the likelihood that it will be torn from the rock. The frond is digitate with about eight large flat lobes and may be massive. The lack of a midrib distinguishes it from Alaria esculenta. It is an extremely fast growing species, growing annually from the base and becoming fully extended over the course of a few months.

Habitat

S polyschides is found on the lowest part of the shore. It can not tolerate dessication and may be found in places where it is wetted by spray when uncovered by the retreating tide. It is often found in association with Laminaria hyperborea

Laminaria hyperborea

Laminaria hyperborea is a species of large brown alga, a kelp in the family Laminariaceae, also known by the common names of tangle and cuvie. It is found in the sublittoral zone of the northern Atlantic Ocean. A variety, Laminaria hyperborea f...

.

Distribution

Distribution including Europe: Ireland, Britain, Faroes, France, Greece, Helgoland, Isla de Alboran, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Scandinavia and Spain.