Ascophyllum nodosum (Linnaeus) Le Jolis 1863

Publication Details
Ascophyllum nodosum (Linnaeus) Le Jolis 1863: 96

Published in: Le Jolis, A. (1863). Liste des algues marines de Cherbourg. Mémoires de la Société Impériale des Sciences Naturelles de Cherbourg 10: 5-168, pls I-VI [1-6].

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Type Species
The type species (holotype) of the genus Ascophyllum is Ascophylla laevigata Stackhouse.

Status of Name
This name is of an entity that is currently accepted taxonomically.

Basionym
Fucus nodosus Linnaeus

Type Information
Type locality: Habitat in Mari Atlantico [Atlantic Ocean]; (Linnaeus 1753: 1159) Notes: On-line view of an unlocalised specimen LINN 1274.58 in the Linnean Herbarium labelled "9" as in the protologue. Athanasiadis (1996: 217) indicated that no type has been designated.

Origin of Species Name
Adjective (Latin), knotted, knobbly (Stearn 1983).

General Environment
This is a marine species.

Description
Ascophyllum nodosum is a brown seaweed closely related to Fucus. It forms a single bladders centrally in long, strap-like fronds. The fronds hang downwards, gently draping sheltered intertidal rocks. A number of fronds grow from each basal holfast, and the plant generally regenerates new fronds from the base when one of the larger fronds are damaged, so that the stands you see on the shore may be very persistant . Reproduction takes place in beautiful yellow receptacles in spring (below). These develop in reponse to short days in the autumn, mature during the winter, and are at their most prolific in spring. Eggs and sperm are released into the water, and the eggs release a low molecular weight sperm attractant known as Finnavarene, named for the village of Finavarra ("wood by the sea") in north Co. Clare in Ireland.

Created: 30 March 1996 by M.D. Guiry.

Last updated: 17 October 2024

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Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 17 October 2024. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 24 November 2024

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