Sea lettuce  (Ulva lactua)

Learn about the scientific name of this species and how it fits into the tree of life at Nature Navigator.

Description

Sea lettuce is a common green seaweed with a broad translucent frond (3) that is just 2 cell layers thick (2). This seaweed has a rather ‘crumpled’ appearance and is reminiscent of a lettuce leaf, hence the common name (4). The frond is typically bright green or dark green in colour with paler margins that are often white (2). It attaches to the substratum with a small disc-like holdfast, but in sheltered areas it may detach and live as large free-floating masses (2).

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