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Story: Seaweed

Brown seaweeds

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Brown seaweeds

One of New Zealand’s most common brown seaweeds is Neptune’s necklace (Hormosira banksii), with its chains of beads. This is a hardy species, able to withstand time out of water. In sheltered sites it can grow up to half a metre in length, with beads of 2–3 cm in diameter; a smaller form grows on open coasts.

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Department of Conservation

Reference: 10051841

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How to cite this page

Maggy Wassilieff, Seaweed – Types of seaweed, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/4590/brown-seaweeds (accessed 11 June 2026).

Story by Maggy Wassilieff, published 2 March 2009.