Bryopsis plumosa, sometimes known by the common names green algae or hen pen, is a type of green seaweed.
Taxonomy This species was originally described by William Hudson under the name Ulva plumosa.
Distribution Bryopsis plumosa is found in the British Isles, Europe, the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea, Azores, Portugal, Spain, France, Norway, Faroes and Iceland, on the Atlantic coast of North America, west coast of Greenland, Jamaica, Canary Islands, Senegal, Ghana, Mauritania, South Africa, British Columbia to California, Australia, Japan and New Zealand.
Description Bryopsis plumosa has distichous branches with a thallus that is small and erect, growing up to 10 cm long. It is coloured bright green and has a soft, silky texture. The branches arranged in two opposite rows.Burrows, E.M. 1991. Seaweeds of the British Isles Volume 2 Chlorophyta.
Reproduction The species is dioecious; when fertile the male plants turn yellowish-green and the female plants are dark green.Dickinson, C.I. 1963 British Seaweeds. The Kew Series
Ecology It can be found in intertidal pools.
Similar species Bryopsis hypnoides can be difficult to distinguish, the branches of B. hypnoides are arranged spirally or irregularly.Bunker, F.StP, Brodie, J.A., Maggs, C.A. and Bunker, A.R. 2017 Seaweeds of Britain and Ireland Second edition. Wild Nature Press, Plymouth, UK
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