Durvillea

Durvillea is a genus of the Heterokontophyta phylum. Members of the genus are found in New Zealand, South America, and Australia. Members of this genus are sometimes called bull kelp which is a common name for a large kelp. Species include:
 * Durvillea antarctica
 * Durvillea potatorum
 * Durvillea chathamensis. Unique to the Chatham Islands
 * Durvillea willana
 * Durvillea caepestipes

New Zealand
Durvillea antarctica is the dominate algae on the southern New Zealand rocky intertidal areas. D. antarctica is found in exposed shores. The holdfast of D. antarctica is large and is very difficult to remove. D. antarctica has to resit forces equivalent to 1100 km/h on land. The blades are golden brown with a leathery texture. D. antarctica does not have air bladders. D. antarctica achieves flotation by a honeycomb structure within the alga's blades. This honeycomb structure helps the kelp from sustaining mechanical damage when being exposes to oscillatory wave motion. This novel structure is thought to be responsible for the wide distribution of this genus. The kelp is able to float when the holdfast fails and it is possible that the algae can colonise other coastlines in this manner.

D. willana is similar to D. antarctica but is found in more sheltered coasts. D. willana has smaller blades than D. antarctica and is found lower on the shoreline, within the true subtidal region.