Leathesia marina

Leathesia marina (Lyngbye) Decaisne, 1842, previously known as Leathesia difformis Areschoug, 1847, commonly known as the sea cauliflower the sea potato, and brown brains is a species of littoral brown algae in the class Phaeophyceae and the order Ectocarpales,^[1] which is commonly attached to other seaweeds and sometimes rocks. When young, the organism is solid but as it matures it becomes hollow and somewhat convoluted and has the appearance of a small leathery brown bag about the same size as a tennis ball. The texture is rubbery and the outer surface smooth.^{[citation needed]}

Clade:Sar

Clade:Stramenopiles

Division:Ochrophyta

Class:Phaeophyceae

Quick facts Scientific classification, Binomial name ...

Leathesia marina
Leathesia marina on Seppings Island, British Columbia
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Clade:	Sar
Clade:	Stramenopiles
Division:	Ochrophyta
Class:	Phaeophyceae
Order:	Ectocarpales
Family:	Chordariaceae
Genus:	Leathesia
Species:	L. marina
Binomial name
Leathesia marina (Lyngbye]]) Decaisne
Synonyms
Leathesia difformis

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These brain-like brown seaweeds can be found growing on rock or as epiphytes on other seaweeds in the mid to low intertidal. Individuals can grow to ~15 centimetres (5.9 in) in diameter. Young individuals can resemble other globular forms of algae, such as Soranthera ulvoidea.^[2][3] To determine if it is Leathesia, squeeze and flatten a piece between your fingers. Leathesia will break apart into filaments whereas other globular forms will flatten but remain intact.^[4]