Since kelp plants grow on rocky surfaces, an abundance of soil is not available to provide supporting integrity to a root system. To combat this problem, kelp plants grow tree-like roots that have special anchors referred to as holdfasts. These holdfasts are able to grip the rocky surface and provide stability to the plant as it grows.
Kelp plants grow in deep waters, but must access the sun's rays, so photosynthesis can occur. To reach the sun's rays, kelp plants grow sinuous stipes-stems that stretch to the surface of the water, sometimes reaching 100 feet. Once these stems reach the surface of the water, canopy growth becomes possible.
As the kelp stipes-stems grow upward, they must have support so they don't simply float in the water, losing their vertical direction toward the sun. To sustain upward growth, the stems are equipped with pneumatocysts (gas badders) that work to support the stem as it grows. These pneumatocysts work much like a personal flotation device, providing buoyancy to the plant.
Horizontal growth and vertical growth is necessary to achieve the canopy-like covering to a kelp ecosystem. For growth to occur, there must be access to an energy source. Attached to the stipes-stems are large leaf-like blades that are equipped with small structures referred to as macrocystis fronds. The fronds facilitate photosynthesis so the kelp plant can convert the sun's energy into food to sustain growth.