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brown
seaweeds text index
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| Seaweeds > Division Phaeophyta |
| Sargassum
seaweed Sargassum sp.* Family Sargassaceae updated Nov 08
Where seen? The largest of our brown seaweeds, this golden leafy seaweed with strange air bladders is commonly encountered on our Southern shores, but rarely on our Northern shores. It grows on the rocky shores as well as on coral rubble. It appears to be seasonal, sometimes forming a luxuriant golden carpet that covers vast areas of the shore, and washing up on the high tide line in huge heaps. At other times, only short, sparsely bladed specimens are seen, on coral rubble or rocks. Features: Sargassum is the largest and most plant-like brown seaweed on our shores. The 'stems' grow to about 20cm or longer. Attached to the stems are leaf-shaped blades and inflated air bladders. The 'leaves' may be narrow, broad or very small (1-5cm long). The small round to oval air bladders interspersed among the 'leaves' are often mistaken for fruits. Seaweeds don't produce fruits like seagrasses do. The sargassum's air bladders help the seaweed stay afloat, closer to sunlight. Thus, long pieces often form floating rafts even after they have broken off from their holdfast. Some sargassum species can reproduce by producing new plants from horizontal creeping 'stems'. This is an adaptation to living on slippery rocks at the splash zone of rocky shores. According to AlgaeBase: there are more than 580 current Sargassum species. Sargassum forest: Sargassum seaweeds are often covered with other tiny seaweeds growing on or entangled among the blades. In this tangled mess, all kinds of small creatures lurk, hiding from predator or prey, or both. Human uses: Sargassum seaweeds are eaten by people, and used fish bait in basket traps, animal feed, fertiliser, insect repellent. Various species are used as medicine for ailments ranging from children's fever, cholesterol problems, cleansing the blood, skin ailments. In the tropics, sargassum seaweeds are a significant source of alginates. They are also used as a component in animal feed and liquid plant food or plant biostimulants. Supplies come from harvested seaweeds, the seaweeds are not farmed. |
 Large piles of sargassum washed ashore. Sisters Island, Jan 10  Various kinds of sargassum. Sisters Island, Nov 05  Various kinds of sargassum. Sisters Island, Jan 10 |
Sargassum seaweeds are more common on our Southern shores.
 Tiny fish and entangled green seaweed on sargassum. Sentosa, May 04 |
Sargassum seaweeds on Singapore shores
*Seaweed species are difficult to positively identify without microscopic examination.
On this website, they are grouped by external features for convenience of display.
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