Bull Kelp

Bull kelp is a

common name In biology, a common name of a taxon or organism (also known as a vernacular name, English name, colloquial name, country name, popular name, or farmer's name) is a name that is based on the normal language of everyday life; and is often con ...

for the

brown alga Brown algae (: alga) are a large group of multicellular algae comprising the class Phaeophyceae. They include many seaweeds located in colder waters of the Northern Hemisphere. Brown algae are the major seaweeds of the temperate and polar reg ...

Nereocystis luetkeana ''Nereocystis'' (Greek, 'mermaid's bladder') is a monotypic genus of subtidal kelp containing the species ''Nereocystis luetkeana''. Some English names include edible kelp, bull kelp, bullwhip kelp, ribbon kelp, bladder wrack, and variations of ...

'' which is a true

kelp Kelps are large brown algae or seaweeds that make up the order (biology), order Laminariales. There are about 30 different genus, genera. Despite its appearance and use of photosynthesis in chloroplasts, kelp is technically not a plant but a str ...

in the family

Laminariaceae Laminariaceae is a Family (biology), family of brown algal seaweeds, many genera of which are popularly called "kelp". The table indicates the genera within this family. Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. (2006). AlgaeBase version 4.2. World-wide electron ...

. Species in the genus ''

Durvillaea ''Durvillaea'' is a genus of large brown algae in the monotypic family Durvillaeaceae. All members of the genus are found in the southern hemisphere, including Australia, New Zealand, South America, and various subantarctic islands. ''Durvillaea ...

'' are also sometimes called "bull kelp", but this is just a shortening of the common name southern bull kelp. ''Durvillaea'' is a genus in the order

Fucales The Fucales (fucoids) are an order in the brown algae (class Phaeophyceae). The list of families in the Fucales, as well as additional taxonomic information on algae, is publicly accessible at Algaebase. The class Phaeophyceae is included wit ...

and, though superficially similar in appearance, is not a true kelp (all of which are in the order

Laminariales Kelps are large brown algae or seaweeds that make up the order Laminariales. There are about 30 different genera. Despite its appearance and use of photosynthesis in chloroplasts, kelp is technically not a plant but a stramenopile (a group conta ...

). {{Gallery , title=Bull kelp and southern bull kelps , width=180 , File:Nereocystis luetkeana1.jpg , {{center, Bull kelp (''

'') at Caspar Point, California , File:BrightonDurvillaea2.jpg , {{center, Southern bull kelps (''

'') in

Otago Otago (, ; ) is a regions of New Zealand, region of New Zealand located in the southern half of the South Island and administered by the Otago Regional Council. It has an area of approximately , making it the country's second largest local go ...

, New Zealand Laminariaceae Common names of organisms