British Seaweeds

Seaweeds (marine algae) show a wide array of forms, colours and textures, and there are many different species of seaweed occupying different niches on the seashore. Some are able to grow high on the shore where it is dry for long periods of the day; others have developed defences against damaging wave action. These features and many more have been used by taxonomists to identify and classify them.

Within its botanical collections, Amgueddfa Cymru houses a herbarium of dried, pressed algal specimens. This herbarium provides an essential resource for studying seaweeds.

Browse through the images below to view a selection of seaweeds that can all be found on Wales' diverse rocky shores.