[Family Alariaceae] Undaria pinnatifida Features: Its root has the shape of a twig, and the stem verticillated in the underside has the shape of a slant circle. The part in leaf shape of the upside has wrinkle, and the left and right side of the leaf has the shape of feather. The original form of the part in leaf shape is an eggshape or needle shape. The surface of the leaf has a group of hair, which is seen a small black spot by the naked eye. The wrinkle at the both sides of stem is a sporophyl. Undaria pinnatifida is classified into two types according to the shape of leaf or the geographical distribution. The southerner type generally has the leaf with shallow crack and many pieces of leaf. The number of wrinkles in sporophyl is low(2-4), and sporophyl is generally connected by trophophyl. Most of them can be found in the shallow part of Southern Sea. The northerner type has a large and long stem and the leaf with deep crack, while it has a few pieces of leaf considering the length. The number of wrinkles in sporophyl is high(6-20). It can be found in the place with a rapid tide. It is stuck on the rock or the stone near open sea and lives under low tide. It is an annual plant, which generally grows from autumn till winter and propagates with zoospore although it has some different cases according to the area. The zoospore germinates and passes the summer as gametophyte. 17-20 degrees is the best temperature for zoospore to germinate and grow, and it is dormant in the case the water temperature is above 23 degrees. It can stand against the high temperature of 30 degrees while it is dormant. At the time the water temperature is below 20 degrees in autumn, the gametophyte attains full growth and becomes spore as a result of sexual reproduction. The spore grows well in the water with the temperature below 17 degrees, and its young simple leaf grows into the middle leaf and the comb-shaped part in leaf shape, which grows well in the water with the temperature below 12-13 degrees. It is spring when the sporophyte attains full growth and the sporophyl starts to emit the zoospore, when the water temperature is above 14 degrees. It emits most zoospore in the water temperature of 17-22 degrees. Range: It is the local specialities of Korea and Japan. In Korea, it can be found from Bangnyeongdo Island in the Western Sea to the end of the Eastern Sea.
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