Polysiphonia opaca
Polysiphonia opaca (C.Agardh) Moris et De Notaris is a small marine alga in the division Rhodophyta.
| Polysiphonia opaca | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| (unranked): | Archaeplastida |
| Division: | Rhodophyta |
| Class: | Florideophyceae |
| Order: | Ceramiales |
| Family: | Rhodomelaceae |
| Genus: | Polysiphonia |
| Species: | P. opaca |
| Binomial name | |
| Polysiphonia opaca (C.Agardh) Moris & De Notaris | |
Description
This small seaweed consists of tufts of branches no more than 6 cm long.[1] The tufts are of erect branches each consisting a series of axial cells surrounded by about 20 periaxial cells all of the same forming a "collar" around the axis. There is no cortication and the plant is attached by rhizoids which attach the plant to a surface.[1] This alga may be confused with Lophosiphonia reptabunda, this alga has however a turf-like habit and is less than 3 cm high unlike P. opaca which grows to over 5 cm high.[1]
Distribution
Very rare, recorded from the south of Wales.[2] Europe: British Isles to Spain, West Indies and E.Australia.[1]
References
- Maggs, C.A. and Hommersand, M.H. 1993. Seaweeds of the British Isles Volume 1 Rhodophyta Part 3A Ceramiales. The Natural History Museum, London. ISBN 0-11-310045-0
- Hardy, F.G. and Guiry, M.D. 2003 A Check-list and Atlas of the Seaweeds of Britain and Ireland. British Phycological Society ISBN 0-9527115-16
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