''Saccorhiza polyschides'', common name furbellow, is a large brown algae of the lower shore and is the largest seaweed found in Europe.Furbellows (''Saccorhiza polyschides'')
The Sea Shore, accessed 21 September 2011.

Description

''Saccorhiza polyschides'' is a large and bulky seaweed growing to 2 - 4 metres long. The holdfast is a large, bulbous hollow, knobbly structure. The stipe is long, tough, leathery and rigid and is several centimetres wide. Near the base the margin forms several broad, wavy frills. These ruffles tend to dissipate wave energy and lessen the likelihood that it will be torn from the rock. The frond is digitate with about eight large flat lobes and may be massive. The lack of a midrib distinguishes it from ''

Alaria esculenta ''Alaria esculenta'' is an edible seaweed, also known as dabberlocks or badderlocks, or winged kelp. It is a traditional food along the coasts of the far north Atlantic Ocean. It may be eaten fresh or cooked in Greenland, Iceland, Scotland and Ir ...

''.Newton, N. (1931). ''A Handbook of the British Seaweeds.'' British Museum, London.Dickinson, C. I. (1963). ''British Seaweeds.'' The Kew Series, Eyre & Spottiswoods. It is an extremely fast growing species, growing annually from the base and becoming fully extended over the course of a few months.

Habitat

''Saccorhiza polyschides'' is found on the lowest part of the shore. It can not tolerate

desiccation Desiccation () is the state of extreme dryness, or the process of extreme drying. A desiccant is a hygroscopic (attracts and holds water) substance that induces or sustains such a state in its local vicinity in a moderately sealed container. ...

and may be found in places where it is wetted by spray when uncovered by the retreating tide. It is often found in association with ''

Laminaria hyperborea ''Laminaria hyperborea'' is a species of large brown alga, a kelp in the family Laminariaceae, also known by the common names of tangle and cuvie. It is found in the sublittoral zone of the northern Atlantic Ocean. A variety, ''Laminaria hyperbo ...

''.

Distribution

Distribution including Europe: Ireland, Britain, Faroes, France, Greece, Helgoland, Isla de Alboran, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Scandinavia and Spain.''Saccorhiza polyschides'' (Lightfoot) Batters
Algaebase, accessed 2 February 2010.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q310345 Tilopteridales