The Bladder wrack was the original source of iodine. It is sometimes called kelp, but that name is not specific to
this species.
Bladder wrack's scientific name is Fucus vesiculosus. It is from the phylum Heterokontophyta. Heterohoktophyta contains about 10,500 species, which can vary a lot.
It is easily recognized by the small gas–filled vesicles which occur in pairs as shown above.
It is commonly found on the shorelines of the British Isles, on the northern Atlantic and Pacific coasts of the United States and has been found in other places such as the Baltic sea, but less commonly.
Meiosis occurs during the formation of the diploid gametes. The sperm and egg cells are formed in specialized cavities in the seaweed called conceptacles. When they are ready, they are released from the conceptacles. Once fertilized, the zygote settles and grows to form the new diploid gametophyte
