Mastocarpus stellatus (Stackhouse) Guiry
Also known as Gigartina stellata,
Gigartina mammilosa and Petrocelis cruenta.
Common names: Clúimhín Cait (Irish); False
Irish Moss, False Carragheen or Carrageen Moss (Eng.).
Description: Cartilaginous, purplish brown fronds, often
in dense tufts, arising from a discoid holdfast, to 200 mm high.
Narrow compressed stipe expands into strap-like blade, usually
inrolled (above) to form a channel, with thickened margins.
Repeatedly dichotomously branched, axils acute. Upper part of
frond with papillae to 10 mm or more long on surfaces and
margins on female plants. Male plants lack papillae but are
generally rare. The tetrasporophyte is a purplish-black crust
Petrocelis-phase, above right.
Habitat: On rocks in lower intertidal, often in large
continuous mats, widespread and abundant.
Usage: In Ireland, collected more or less interchangeably
with
Chondrus crispus for
use as Carrageen or Irish Moss
Link:
AlgaeBase
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