Osmundea pinnatifida (Hudson) Stackhouse
Other names: Laurencia pinnatifida (Hudson) J.V.
Lamouroux
Common names: Pepper Dulse (English).
Míobhán (Irish). Erva-malagueta, Botelho-preto,
Argacinho-das-lapas, Pele-de-lapa (Portugese).
Description: Cartilaginous, usually markedly
compressed, blackish-purple bleaching to pale yellow fronds,
usually 20-80 mm long, forming extensive, closely interwoven
turfs from entangled stoloniferous holfasts. Very variable in
colour, size and form. Main axis usually simple, branching
alternate distichous, repeatedly pinnate. Ultimate ramuli short,
blunt.
Habitat: On rocks, perennial, throughout
intertidal, often as flattened rosettes covering exposed rocks,
also subtidal, generally distributed, abundant.
Similar species:
Osmundea osmunda is
very similar but arises from a discoid holdfast, and is
generally lower down on the shore and larger, with isolated
plants. Osmundea truncata is much less common, is more
pinnately branched, generally grows epiphytically, and rapidly
degenerates on collection.
Key characteristics: Stoloniferous holdfast,
smaller than
Osmundea osmunda
and less profically branched.
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