Phyllophora sicula explained

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

Description

This small red alga grows to a length of, 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.^{[1] [2]}

Reproduction

Gametangial plants are unknown. Tetrasporangial patches occur in the center of the blade.^[2]

Habitat

It is found in rock pools of the lower littoral and in the sublittoral to depths of .^[2]

Distribution

It is generally recorded from the southwest of Great Britain, Ireland, Portugal, and elsewhere in the Mediterranean.^[2] The type locality is in Italy.

Notes and References

1. Dixon, P.S. and Irvine, L.M. 1977. Seaweeds of the British Isles Volume 1 Rhodophyta Part 1 Introduction, Nemaliales, Gigartinales. British Museum, London
2. 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.