Pelagophycus

Pelagophycus is a monotypic genus of kelp. It is found in deep waters off the west coast of central North America. The species Pelagophycus porra, also known as elk kelp, grows in temperatures of no higher than 60 °F (16 °C).

Pelagophycus
Pelagophycus porra washed up on San Clemente Island
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Clade:	Diaphoretickes
Clade:	Sar
Clade:	Stramenopiles
Phylum:	Gyrista
Subphylum:	Ochrophytina
Class:	Phaeophyceae
Order:	Laminariales
Family:	Laminariaceae
Genus:	Pelagophycus Areschoug, 1881
Species:	P. porra
Binomial name
Pelagophycus porra (Léman) Setchell

It grows in subtidal forests in the coastal waters off southern California and northwestern Baja California Peninsula, in waters of 20 metres (66 ft) to 90 metres (300 ft) deep, anchored by a holdfast in sedimentary or loose sediment bottoms.^[1]

Three ecotypes are recognized:

Pelagophycus giganteus

Pelagophycus porra

Pelagophycus intermedius ^[1]