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Story: Seaweed

The different parts of seaweed

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The different parts of seaweed

Seaweeds anchor to surfaces by means of a holdfast. The main body of a seaweed may be divided into fronds or blades, which provide a large surface for the absorption of sunlight. The stem of a seaweed is called a stipe, absent in small seaweeds. Air-filled bladders called floats help to keep the stipe and fronds buoyant.

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Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

by Melanie Lovell-Smith

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How to cite this page

Maggy Wassilieff, Seaweed – What is seaweed?, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/4583/the-different-parts-of-seaweed (accessed 11 June 2026).

Story by Maggy Wassilieff, published 2 March 2009.