E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Flora of British Columbia

Melanosiphon intestinalis (Saunders) Wynne
twisted sa tubes
Punctariaceae

Introduction to the Algae

© Michael Hawkes  Email the photographer   (Photo ID #26976)

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Distribution of Melanosiphon intestinalis
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Ocean Biogeography Information System (global distribution)

Species Information

Family Description:
The sporophyte is the macroscopic phase in the life history of members of this family. It can form parenchymatous blades or hollow, globose sacs or tubes whose reproductive organs can protrude from the cortex or occur in sori over its surface. In some species, reproductive cells from these sporangia repeat the same phase rather than give rise to the gametophyte. Sexual reproduction, where it is known, is isogamous and occurs in the microscopic, filamentous gametophytes.
Species description:
Twisted Sea Tubes looks similar to Soda Straws but lacks the diagnostic constrictions on its tubes, is darker colored, and is often twisted.

This is a very weedy species that is an early colonizer of bare space on rocks. At higher elevations in the intertidal zone, it grows in tidepools. Occasionally it occurs epiphytically.

Source: North Pacific Seaweeds

Habitat / Range

Bathymetry: throughout the intertidal zone
World Distribution: Aleutian Islands, Alaska, to San Mateo County, California; western North Pacific; North Atlantic

Source: North Pacific Seaweeds

Synonyms and Alternate Names

Myelophycus intestinalis

Taxonomic and Nomenclatural Links

Additional Range and Status Information Links

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General References