This is a list of brown seaweeds recorded from the oceans bordering The Cape Peninsula in South Africa from Melkbosstrand on the West Coast to Cape Hangklip on the South Coast. This list comprises locally used common names, scientific names with author citation and recorded ranges. Ranges specified may not be the entire known range for the species, but should include the known range within the waters surrounding the Republic of South Africa.
Brown seaweed refers to thousands of species of macroscopic, multicellular, marine algae in the taxon Phaeophyta
The marine ecology is unusually varied for an area of this size, as a result of the meeting of two major oceanic water masses near Cape Point, and the park extends into two coastal marine bioregions. The ecology of the west or "Atlantic Seaboard" side of the Cape Peninsula is noticeably different in character and biodiversity to that of the east, or "False Bay" side. Both sides are classified as temperate waters, but there is a significant difference in average temperature, with the Atlantic side being noticeably colder on average.
List ordering and taxonomy complies where possible with the current usage in Algaebase, and may differ from the cited source, as listed citations are primarily for range or existence of records for the region. Sub-taxa within any given taxon are arranged alphabetically as a general rule. Details of each species may be available through the relevant internal links. Synonyms may be listed where useful.
Class: Phaeophyceae
Order: Cutleriales
Family Cutleriaceae Aglaozonia sp. (Muizenberg, False Bay. Brandfontein. Bird Island, eastern Cape)
Order: Desmarestiales
Family Desmarestiaceae Acid weed Desmarestia herbacea subsp. firma (C.Agardh) A.F.Peters, E.C.Yang, F.C.Küpper & Prud'Homme van Reine, 2014, recorded as syn. Desmarestia firma (C.Agardh) Skottsberg in Nordenskjöld 1907, syn. Sporochnus herbaceus var. firma C.Agardh 1824,Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 2012. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org/search/species/detail/?species_id=3458; searched on 24 February 2012 (Möwe Bay, Namibia to Betty's Bay. Doubtful record for Cape Agulhas)
Order: Dictyotales
Family Dictyotaceae Dictyota dichotoma (Hudson) J.V.Lamouroux 1809, syn. Ulva dichotoma Hudson 1762, Zonaria dichotoma (Hudson) C.Agardh 1817, Fucus dichotomus (Hudson) Bertolini 1819, Haliseris dichotoma (Hudson) Sprengel 1827, Dichophyllium dichotomum (Hudson) Kützing 1843,M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 2012. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org/search/species/detail/?species_id=60; searched on 24 February 2012(Langebaan and False Bay to Natal. D. dichotoma var. intricata (C.Agardh) Greville 1830, common at Kalk Bay and Dalebrook, and occurring more or less throughout the range of the species) Dictyota liturata J.Agardh 1848,Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 2012. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org/search/species/detail/?species_id=867; searched on 24 February 2012 (Kommetjie on Cape Peninsula to Umhlali in KwaZulu-Natal)Tronchin, E.M. and De Clerk, O in De Clerck, O., Bolton, J.J., Anderson, R. J. & Coppejans, E. 2005. Guide to the Seaweeds of KwazZulu-Natal. Scripta Botanica Belgica Volume 33. Joint publication of: National Botanical gardens of Belgium, VLIZ Flanders Marine Institute and Flemish Community. Spotted dictyota Dictyota naevosa (Suhr) Montagne 1840, syn. Zonaria naevosa Suhr 1834, Cutleria naevosa (Suhr) Hering ex Krauss 1846,M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 2012. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org/search/species/detail/?species_id=3455; searched on 24 February 2012 (Die Walle to Umhlali, KwaZulu-Natal)(Cape Peninsula eastward into KwaZulu-Natal as far as Mission Rocks) Intricate dictyota, Dictyota spp. Multi-fanned zonaria Exallosorus harveyanus (Pappe ex Kützing) J.A.Phillips, 1997. Syn. Zonaria harveyana (Pappe ex Kützing) Areschoug 1851,Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 2012. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org/search/species/detail/?species_id=43277; searched on 24 February 2012 (Platbank, False Bay to KwaZulu-Natal as far north as Park Rynie. Endemic)Stegenga, H., Bolton, J.J., & Anderson, R.J. 1997. Seaweeds of the South African West Coast. Contributions from the Bolus Herbarium, University of Cape Town. Articulated zonaria, Zonaria subarticulata (J.V.Lamouroux) Papenfuss, 1944. Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. (2023). AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway (taxonomic information republished from AlgaeBase with permission of M.D. Guiry). Zonaria subarticulata (J.V.Lamouroux) Papenfuss, 1944. Accessed through: World Register of Marine Species at: https://marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=145396 on 2023-10-14
Order: Ectocarpales
Family: Acinetosporaceae Acinetospora crinita (Carmichael) Sauvageau 1899, syn. Acinetospora pusilla var. crinita (Carmichael) Batters, Ectocarpus crinitus Carmichael 1833,M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 2012. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org/search/species/detail/?species_id=246; searched on 27 February 2012 (False Bay, Eastern Cape) Feldmannia irregularis (Kützing) G.Hamel 1939, syn. Ectocarpus irregularis Kützing 1845, Giffordia irregularis (Kützing) Joly 1965, Hincksia irregularis (Kützing) Amsler 1991,M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 2012. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org/search/species/detail/?species_id=951; searched on 27 February 2012 (Cape Peninsula, Langebaan lagoon and Eastern Cape) Hincksia granulosa (Smith) P.C.Silva in P.C.Silva, E.G.Meñez & R.L.Moe 1987, Conferva granulosa Smith 1811, Ectocarpus granulosus (Smith) C.Agardh 1828, Giffordia granulosa (Smith) G.Hamel 1939,M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 2012. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org/search/species/detail/?species_id=251; searched on 27 February 2012 (Muizenberg and Oudekraal, also Namibia)
Family Chordariaceae Asperococcus compressus A.W.Griffiths ex W.J.Hooker 1833,M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 2012. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org/search/species/detail/?species_id=293; searched on 24 February 2012 (Table Bay) Furry slime strings, Chordariaceae spp. Brown brains Leathesia marina (Lyngbye) Decaisne 1842, syn. Chaetophora marina Lyngbye 1819, Leathesia difformis (Linnaeus) J.E. Areschoug 1847,M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 2012. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org/search/species/detail/?species_id=12461; searched on 26 February 2012 (All South African coasts: common on west coast, intermittent in eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal) Myriocladia capensis J. Agardh 1848,Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 2012. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org/search/species/detail/?species_id=3445; searched on 26 February 2012 (Port Nolloth to De Hoop Nature Reserve, endemic) Myriogloea abbreviata Kylin 1940,M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 2012. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org/search/species/detail/?species_id=3447; searched on 26 February 2012 (Sea Point to Port Nolloth, endemic) Myriogloea papenfussii Kylin 1940,Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 2012. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org/search/species/detail/?species_id=3446; searched on 26 February 2012 (False Bay to Melkbosstrand, endemic) Myrionema cf. magnusii (Sauvageau) Loiseaux 1967, syn. Ascocyclus magnusii Sauvageau 1927,Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 2012. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org/search/species/detail/?species_id=279; searched on 26 February 2012 (Glencairn) Papenfussiella gracilis Kylin 1940,M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 2012. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org/search/species/detail/?species_id=3448; searched on 26 February 2012 (Platboombaai to Swakopmund, Namibia. Endemic to southern Africa) Zeacarpa leiomorpha Anderson, Simons & Bolton 1988,M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 2012. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org/search/species/detail/?species_id=3444; searched on 26 February 2012 (Yzerfontein to Dalebrook, Probably more widespread)
Family Chordariopsidaceae Cape cord weed Chordariopsis capensis (C.Agardh) Kylin 1940, syn. Chordaria flagelliformis var. capensis C.Agardh 1824,Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 2012. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org/search/species/detail/?species_id=3449; searched on 24 February 2012 (Cape Frio, Namibia to at least Arniston)
Family Ectocarpaceae Ectocarpus acutus Setchell & Gardner 1922c,M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 2012. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org/search/species/detail/?species_id=3442; searched on 27 February 2012 (Olifantsbos to Hondeklipbaai) Ectocarpus fasciculatus Harvey 1841,M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 2012. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org/search/species/detail/?species_id=248; searched on 27 February 2012 (Melkbosstrand to De Hoop) Ectocarpus siliculosus (Dillwyn) Lyngbye 1819, syn. Conferva siliculosa Dillwyn 1809, Ceramium siliculosum (Dillwyn) C.Agardh 1811, Ectocarpus confervoides f. siliculosus (Dillwyn) Kjellman 1872, Ectocarpus confervoides var. siliculosus (Dillwyn) Farlow 1881,M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 2012. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org/search/species/detail/?species_id=1368; searched on 27 February 2012 (Port Nolloth to Eastern Cape) Ectocarpus spp.
Family: Pylaiellaceae Bachelotia antillarum (Grunow) Gerloff 1959, syn. Ectocarpus antillarum Grunow 1867, Pylaiella antillarum (Grunow) De Toni 1895,Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 2012. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org/search/species/detail/?species_id=923; searched on 27 February 2012 (False Bay to KwaZulu-Natal)
Family Scytosiphonaceae Oyster thief Colpomenia sinuosa (Mertens ex Roth) Derbès & Solier in Castagne 1851, syn. Ulva sinuosa Mertens ex Roth 1806, Encoelium sinuosum (Mertens ex Roth) C.Agardh 1820, Stilophora sinuosa (Mertens ex Roth) C.Agardh 1827, Asperococcus sinuosus (Mertens ex Roth) Bory de Saint-Vincent 1832, Asperococcus sinuosus (C.Agardh) Zanardini 1841, Hydroclathrus sinuosus (Mertens) ex Roth) Zanardini 1843,M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 2012. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. http://www.algaebase.org/search/species/detail/?species_id=831; searched on 26 February 2012 (Throughout South Africa) Compsonema cf. sessile Setchell & Gardner 1922a, (Oudekraal)