Undaria pinnatifida
Common names: Japanese kelp; wakame; Asian seaweed
Undaria pinnatifida (wakame) is an annual algae (family Alariaceae) first recorded in several estuaries in California in 2000. Wakame is native to Japan, where it is consumed for its food value and as a nutritional supplement. In California, wakame usually cannot compete with native perennial brown algae, but it may colonize estuaries rapidly if native algae are not present. Hence, wakame occurs in high densities only in recently disturbed areas. Although it does not appear to have serious impacts in California, it has been a very serious invader in New Zealand.
Cal-IPC Rating: LimitedCal-IPC Assessment
Plant Assessment Form - Information gathered by Cal-IPC on the impacts, rate of spread, and distribution of invasive plants in California. Does not include management information.
Weed Management Notes
No Weed RIC Management Notes are available for this species. Check for information on other species in the genus on the Weed RIC site.Cal-IPC Newsletter Articles
- Wldland Weed News. editor. Vol 17, Issue 3
Cal-IPC Symposium Presentations
Presentations are linked where available. Where a presentation is not available, find more information by reading the abstract in the Cal-IPC Symposia Archive.
- 2003 Cal-IPC red alert! New invasions, recent expansions, and a few others to be on the look-out For…. Tu, Mandy; Randall, John M. (2003)
- Aquatic weeds: Policy, prevention, and control. Anderson, Lars (2003)
- 2002 Red alert! New introductions and recent expansions in California. Tu, Mandy; Randall, John M. (2002)
Other Undaria pinnatifida Information
- Calflora - See the distribution of this species on Calflora's map of California.
- CalWeedMapper - Distribution information with ability to determine regional priorities.