A very large brown seaweed (algae). It has dark brown leathery, strap-like branches (thallus).
It attaches to the substrate by a large disc or conical-shaped holdfast. Usually there is a single leathery frond (stalk) from the holdfast, which divides into long segments or fronds.
Its strong holdfast often pulls off pieces of granite during storms which can remain attached to the kelp when washed up on shore.
Size
Up to 8 m long, holdfast up to 25 cm across.
Field Guide
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