Bladder Wrack, Popweed, Rock weed, Red wrack, Dyer's wrack
Fucus vesiculosus
Family: Fucaceae
What it is like
A brown seaweed. It is 15-100 cm long. It has air bladders. These are arranged in groups of 2 or 3 along the fronds. The fronds are leathery and olive-brown. The fronds are branched and strap-like.
There are 6 Fucus species. They are seaweeds found in shallow water in the northern hemisphere. It is rich in iodine.
Where it is found
It is a temperate and Mediterranean plant. It grows in the Atlantic and English channel as well as the North Sea and Baltic countries.
Countries/locations it is found in
Atlantic, Bolivia, Britain, Europe, France, Greenland, Iceland, Ireland, Mediterranean, Morocco, North America, Norway, Portugal, Russia, Spain, USA
How it is used for food
THE PLANT IS NOT EATEN. The dried plants are used as a herbal tea. The plant is placed in a linen cloth and suspended in the pot to impart flavour to fish, meat or vegetables then the wrack removed. Caution: Using the plant too much could over stimulate the thyroid gland. The plant is a source of iodine.
Edible parts
Seaweed, algae
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Pig weed