Corallina officinalis
Corallina officinalis | |
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Scientific classification ![]() | |
(unranked): | Archaeplastida |
Division: | Rhodophyta |
Class: | Florideophyceae |
Order: | Corallinales |
Family: | Corallinaceae |
Genus: | Corallina |
Species: | C. officinalis
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Binomial name | |
Corallina officinalis |
Corallina officinalis is a calcareous red seaweed which grows in the lower and mid-littoral zones on rocky shores.
It is primarily found growing around the rims of
It forms calcium carbonate deposits within its cells which serve to strengthen the thallus. These white deposits cause the seaweed to appear pink in colour, with white patches where the calcium carbonate is particularly concentrated, such as at the growing tips. The calcium carbonate makes it unpalatable to most rocky shore grazers.
Description
The thallus of C. officinalis is firmly attached generally to rock and grows in tufts to a length of 120mm. It has articulated pinnate branching with successive opposite lateral branches.[2] Each frond consists of cylindrical calcified stipes which show segments each a little longer than broad, rising from a crustose base like a string of beads becoming larger and more wedge-shaped higher up the stipe.[3][4] In colour the fronds are pinkish, it may bleach to white when exposed to sunlight.[5]
Reproduction
The sexes exist on separate plants and appear as small chalky nodules.[5]
Ecology
Corallina grows on rocks in rock pools[6] and occasionally on shells or other algae, at mid-littoral to 33m deep, it provides a habitat for many small animals which feed on the microorganisms dwelling in its dense tufts.[4]
Distribution
C. officinalis is common, to be found on solid rock around
References
- ^ World Register of Marine Species
- ^ Newton, L. 1931. A Handbook of the British Seaweeds. British Museum (Nat. Hist.) London
- ^ Dickinson, C.I. 1963. British Seaweeds The Kew Series. Eyre & Spottiswoode.
- ^ ISBN 0 11 310016 7
- ^ ISBN 9780995567337
- ^ Lewis, J.R. 1964. The Ecology of Rocky Shores. The English Universities Press Ltd, London
- OCLC 841897290.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- M. D. Guiry & Wendy Guiry (2007-01-25). "Corallina officinalis Linnaeus". AlgaeBase.
- http://www.marlin.ac.uk/speciesinformation.php?speciesID=3039