Phyllophora crispa is a medium-sized fleshy, marine red alga. This alga forms dense mats of up to 15 cm thickness, which influence environmental factors, thus creating habitat for several associated organisms.
Description Phyllophora crispa is a perennial seaweed growing up to long.Bunker, F.StP. D., Brodie, J.A., Maggs, C.A. and Bunker, A.R.2017. Seaweeds of Britain and Ireland Second Edition Wild Nature Press, Plymouth, UK It grows from a short terete stipe. The frond is firm bright red in colour and with flattened parallel sides. It branches dichotomously the tips being rounded. It is cartilaginous with the medulla, the internal parts composed of large compact cells enclosed in two to four layers of smaller cells.Dixon, P.S. and Irvine, L.M.1977. Seaweeds of the British Isles Volume 1 Rhodophyta. British Museum (Natural History)
Reproduction The sexes are dioecious, that is to be found on separate plants. The reproductive outgrowths occur on the blade surface, and the cystocarps are on short stalks on the thallus surface.Newton, L. 1931 A Handbook of the British Seaweeds. British Museum, London The tetraspores are arranged in rows; on the surface of the stipe is special bladelets.
Habitat Epilithic, found deep rock pools in the lower littoralHardy, F.G. and Guiry, M.D.2003.A Check-list and Atlas of the Seaweeds of Britain and Ireland. The British Phycological Society and to a depth of 30 m in the sublittoral.
Distribution Generally common around Ireland, Great Britain as far north as Shetland and the Isle of Man. Recorded also from Iceland, Norway, Portugal, Mediterranean and the Black Sea.
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