Methods
Habitats
Bibliography
Glossary
Schedule
Students

PHYCOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA

Sargassum taxonomy

Kingdom: Protoctista

Division: Heterokontophyta

Class: Phaeophyceae

Order: Fucales

Family: Sargassaceae

Genus: Sargassum

Subgenus: Bactrophycus

Species: muticum

Why is taxonomy difficult?

• Sargassum morphology is highly plastic, with environmental and temporal factors creating variation between and within populations of the same species.

• Many descriptions in the literature are not complete or based on variable characteristics such as blade size and shape, making it difficult or impossible to determine the       species.

 

Return to Sargassum home page