Of sea bamboo, split fan kelp and bladder kelp: three common kelp species of the Cape Peninsula and West Coast
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Date
2001
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Botanical Society of South Africa
Abstract
The third part in our series on the common intertidal seaweeds of the Cape Peninsula looks at the kelps, the giant brown seaweeds that occur in the subtidal and intertidal gullies of the Cape Peninsula and the west coast. Like trees an ancient forest, kelp dominate the canopy of the subtidal zone in the cool, nutrient-rich waters of the South African west coast. Kelp is the largest and fastest growing of the seaweeds, growing as much as 13 mm in a day. Some of these seaweeds as the giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) of central and southern California are known to grow to over 30 m in length.
Description
Keywords
Cape Peninsula, Kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera, Nutrient-rich waters
Citation
Maneveldt, G.W. & Frans, R. (2001). Of sea bamboo, split fan kelp and bladder kelp: three common kelp species of the Cape Peninsula and West Coast. Veld & Flora 87(1): 38-39