The strap-like reproductive fronds grow quickly between February and May, reaching a length of up to 3 m. The plant releases gametes from June until the winter when it starts to decay. Plants commonly live for 2-3 years and reproduce once before dying.

Link for (Pereira, 2010) Handbook Guide

Original publication: Gray, S.F. (1821). A natural arrangement of British plants, according to their relations to each other, as pointed out by Jussieu, De Candolle, Brown, &c. including those cultivated for use; with an introduction to botany, in which the terms newly introduced are explained; illustrated by figures. pp. vol. 1: xxviii, 824; vol. 2: viii, 757, XXI plates (vol. 1). London: Baldwin, Cradock & Joy.

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Himanthalia elongata is a brown seaweed of the order Fucales, whose color ranges from brown to greenish brown to olive green. One can quickly recognize why this seaweed is sometimes named "sea spaghetti", but Himanthalia elongata actually has a two-stage morphology. A small button-like frond is first produced, from which long, narrow, strap-like reproductive fronds are formed. The button stage is first club-shaped, then develops into a button shape two to four centimeters in diameter and slightly depressed in the middle, which is connected to the substrate by a short stipe and discoid holdfast. This saucer-shaped button, with a consistency like cartilage, is the perennial and vegetative part of the seaweed. 2 dichotomously branched strap-like reproductive fronds up to 2 or 3 meters in length and 1 centimeter wide are produced from the center of each button (in autumn), although plants have been observed with 1 to 4 straps. These fronds branch dichotomously three or four times and do not have air bladders. At the end of the seaweed's reproductive stage at the end of the summer, the fronds detach from their perennial base. New fronds begin growing from the same base during the winter.

Himanthalia elongata has a life span of 2 to 5 years, and is mature and able to reproduce at 2 years. Himanthalia elongata is common on gently shelving rocky shores attached to hard substrata such as bedrock, or large to very large boulders. It is found on the lower shore flourishing at the low tide limit with moderate wave exposure where its thallus is typically always submerged, and is considered an infralittoral species.

Link for Seaweeds Industry Association

Direct use as food - food, consumed whole

Terrestrial plant and animal production - fertiliser

Other uses: Himanthalia elongata is known to provide high levels of Vitamins A, C and E along with essential amino acids and other natural minerals. It has several properties which make it attractive as an ingredient in personal care and cosmetic products, such as that it is absorbent, viscosity controlling, skin protecting, and can be used as a binding agent. It has a natural ability to help restore balance to skin's moisture levels. It is used in dozens of products made in Ireland, France, Spain, Italy, Canada, and the United States. Himanthalia elongata is used in shampoos and hair treatments, facial cleansers and skin care products, and also as a fertilizer. It can be sold and eaten fresh when in season, but it is typically sold dried or pickled, and is eaten most commonly in France and Ireland. It is used as an alternative to both traditional semolina spaghetti and green beans. It is found in popular tartar (sauce), tahini, pâté and cream products, and also in sea vegetable mixes.

Cho, G.Y, Rousseau, F., Reviers, B. de & Boo, S.M. (2006). Phylogenetic relationships within the Fucales (Phaeophyceae) assessed by the photosystem I coding psaA sequences. Phycologia 45: 512-519.

Gallardo Garciá, T. & Pérez-Ruzafa, I.M. (2001). Himanthalia Lyngb. In: Flora phycologica iberica Vol. 1 Fucales. (Gómez Garreta, A. Eds) Vol.1, pp. 69-71. Murcia: Universidad de Murcia.

Loiseaux-de Goër, S. & Noailles, M.-C. (2008). Algues de Roscoff. pp. [1]-215, col. figs. Roscoff: Editions de la Station Biologique de Roscoff.

Setchell, W.A. (1931). Some early algal confusions. University of California Publications in Botany 16: 351-366.

In English: Sea Thong

In Portuguese: Esparguete-do-mar, Cintas, Cordas, Corriolas (Pereira 2010)

In Trade: Sea spaghetti

Other names: alga cinturao, alga cinturon, an raif, an ríseach, an ruabhánach, an ruadhálach, an ruadhánach, an sreanga, correa, haricot de mer, haricot vert de mer, havets grønne bønner, himantalia, himanthale, Iallacha bróige, knapptang, Remmetang, Remtang, Riementang, Riemwier, sea spaghetti, sea thong, sea-thong, spaghetti de mer, spaguetti de mar, thong weed, thong-weed, thongweed

Basionym: Fucus elongatus Linnaeus

Type locality: Habitat inter Angliam & Hispaniam [Living between England and Spain] (Linnaeus 1753: 1159).