Biodiversity & Conservation

Oarweed - Laminaria digitata - General information

Laminaria digitata

Image Keith Hiscock - Laminaria digitata at low tide. Image width ca 2 m in foreground.
Image copyright information

  • #
  • #
  • #
  • #
  • #
  • #
  • #
  • #
  • #
  • #
  • #
Distribution map

Laminaria digitata recorded (dark blue bullet) and expected (light blue bullet) distribution in Britain and Ireland (see below)

Why do the maps differ?

Sightings Have you seen Laminaria digitata?
If so please submit your record.

Laminaria digitata is not listed under any importance categories.

General information

Key Icon Researched by: Jacqueline Hill Text page icon Refereed by: Dr Stefan Kraan

Taxonomy icon Taxonomy

Phylum Ochrophyta Brown and yellow-green seaweeds
Class Phaeophyceae
Map icon Recorded distribution in Britain and Ireland Most coasts of Britain and Ireland, including Rockall. Scarce along east coast of England, particularly between Ouse and Thames estuaries, due to turbidity and lack of hard substrata. (Information continued in additional information).
Habitat information icon Habitat information Found attached to bedrock or other suitable hard substrata in the lower intertidal and sublittoral fringe, down to a maximum depth of 20 m in clear waters. Laminaria digitata flourishes in moderately exposed areas or at sites with strong water currents. In exposed locations with strong wave action the species may extend upwards into the lower eulittoral. Occurs in rockpools up to mid-tide level and higher on wave-exposed coasts.
Text page icon Description A large conspicuous kelp growing up to 2 m in length commonly found at low water during spring tides on rocky shores. The frond is broad and digitate, glossy and dark brown in colour and lacks a midrib. The stipe is oval in cross section, smooth and flexible and is usually free of epiphytes, although old stipes which have become slightly roughened may support a few epiphytes, notably Palmaria palmata. The kelp is attached by freely branched haptera, which spread out to form a shallow dome-shaped holdfast. Laminaria digitata may be confused with young Laminaria hyperborea plants. However, the stipe of Laminaria hyperborea is circular in cross section, is stiff and snaps easily when bent (although you won't see that in younger plants).

This review can be cited as follows:

Jacqueline Hill 2008. Laminaria digitata. Oarweed. Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Sub-programme [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. [cited 23/05/2013]. Available from: <http://www.marlin.ac.uk/speciesfullreview.php?speciesID=3613>