• Kingdom: Plantae
  • Phylum: Ochrophyta
  • Class: Phaeophyceae
  • Order: Laminariales
  • Family: Laminariaceae
  • Scientific name: Saccharina latissima
  • Norwegian: sukkertare

Characteristics:

This common seaweed is also known as sweet kelp and sea belt. It long and narrow, undivided frond that can grow to a length of 4-5 meters, but 1-2 meters is common. The color is yellowish brown. The distinct crinkly and wavy frond edge is characteristic. It can live for as much as four years.

Habitat:

The sweet kelp may be found on sand as well as rocky substrate, as deep as 30 meters. It seems to avoid the most exposed locations.

Distribution:

Between 5 and 25 % of all the sweet kelp in the world is found along the coast of Norway. It can be found in the North Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, as well as in the Arctic.