Harnessing the Energy!
Beautiful giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) absorbing the abundant sunlight of Southern California. The gas-filled bladder at the base of the leaf-like blade holds the kelp upright, and the kelp fronds grow straight up to the surface. Kelp is a type of algae. Thus it does not have a root system to absorb water and nutrients. It harvests the sun’s energy through photosynthesis. The growing season for the giant kelp starts in spring and peaks in fall.
