DSC_3859 Bull kelp, or rimurapa (Durvillaea antarctica) massive plants that grow on very exposed coastlines. The thick heavy stipe splits into many thongs. The more exposed the coast, the more whip-like the blades are. Brighton Beach
DSC_5305 Bull kelp, or rimurapa (Durvillaea antarctica) the stalks of bull kelp withstand tremendous force when waves crash onto them. They stretch and bend without snapping, and return to their original position in the waves. It is thought that high concentrations of the chemical alginate are responsible for this elasticity. Coastal residents of Otago and Southland even use bull kelp stipes to make bouncing balls! Brighton Beach
