Vertebrata lanosa (Linnaeus) T.Christensen
Also known as Polysiphonia lanosa (Linnaeus) Tandy
Common name:
Olann Dhearg (Irish).
Description: Cartilaginous, cylindrical,
densely tufted, dark reddish-purple fronds, to 75 mm long,
attached by creeping rhizoids with branches penetrating the host
fronds of
Ascophyllum nodosum. Repeatedly pseudodichotomously branched, apices pointed,
widely forked. Large central siphon with 12-24 pericentral
siphons, ecorticate, articulations shorter than broad.
Habitat: Hemiparasitic on
Ascophyllum nodosum, more rarely on
Fucus vesiculosus, never on rock (appearances can be deceptive as it can grow on
old stalks of both species) in the sheltered midtidal, generally
distributed, usually abundant where
Ascophyllum occurs.Vertebrata is gnerally
infected with a tiny, more or less colourless parasitic red alga
called Choreocolax polysiphoniae, to which it is
closely related.
Photographs © M.D. Guiry
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