Phyllophora sicula

Phyllophora sicula
A specimen of Phyllophora sicula
A specimen of Phyllophora sicula
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Supergroup: Archaeplastida
Division: Rhodophyta
Class: Florideophyceae
Order: Gigartinales
Family: Phyllophoraceae
Genus: Phyllophora
Species:
P. sicula
Binomial name
Phyllophora sicula
(Kützing) Guiry & L.M.Irvine

Phyllophora sicula, the hand leaf bearer, is a small red marine alga.

Description

This small red alga grows to a length of 20 mm (0.8 in), erect from a disc shaped holdfast. It has a short, erect, terete stipe which expands as a flattened blade branching once or twice. The blades have a cartilaginous texture with a medulla of large cells within a cortex of one or two layers of small cells.

Reproduction

Gametangial plants are unknown. Tetrasporangial patches occur in the center of the blade.

Habitat

It is found in rock pools of the lower littoral and in the sublittoral to depths of 12 m (39 ft).

Distribution

It is generally recorded from the southwest of Great Britain, Ireland, Portugal, and elsewhere in the Mediterranean. The type locality is in Italy.

References

  1. 1 2 Guiry, M.D.; Guiry, G.M. "Phyllophora sicula". AlgaeBase. University of Galway. Retrieved 2 January 2019.
  2. ↑ Dixon, P.S. and Irvine, L.M. 1977. Seaweeds of the British Isles Volume 1 Rhodophyta Part 1 Introduction, Nemaliales, Gigartinales. British Museum, LondonISBN 0-565-00781-5
  3. 1 2 3 4 Bunker F.StD., Brodie, J.A., Maggs, C.A. and Bunker, A.R. 2017. Seaweeds of Britain and Ireland. Second Edition Wild Nature Press, Plymouth, UK.ISBN 978-0-9955673-3-7