Sea Lettuce

Scientific Name:
Ulva lactuca
Description

A bright green alga found in the intertidal zone along the California coast and in oceans around the world. As its name suggests, it resembles salad lettuce.

Fun Facts

Sea lettuce grows best where there are high concentrations of nutrients like nitrogen. As a result, you will see lots of it in ocean areas that receive frequent runoff (overflowing water) from farms, which use fertilizer.

Nature Topics
Marine Life, The Great Kelp Forest

Habitat

Feeding

Bright green sea lettuce algae growing in shallow intertidal pools among rocks, with sunlight reflecting off the water.

Photo credit: ©Kip Evans

Sea Lettuce relies on

  • Line drawing on the sun

    Sun

  • Line drawing of a water drop

    Water

  • Line drawing of a plant above ground and its roots below ground

    Nutrients