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Story: Marine invaders

Undaria reproductive parts

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Undaria reproductive parts

A frilled sporophyll or spore-bearing structure develops at the base of the mature undaria stalk or stipe. It releases up to 10 million tiny spores into the water during one summer season. The mature plant then dies. This dried sporophyll had washed ashore.

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Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

by Jock Phillips

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How to cite this page

Christina Troup, Marine invaders – Invasive marine algae and plants in New Zealand, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/9538/undaria-reproductive-parts (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Christina Troup, published 2 March 2009.