Gelidiella calcicola Maggs & Guiry
Description: Softly cartilaginous, irregularly branched,
entangled, creeping; fronds brick-red, 300-500 µm wide and
10-30 mm long, arising from peg-like insertions into the maerl,
often winding around the maerl branchlets. Fronds flattended.
Ultimate branches short, pointed at first, later ±
spathulate, particularly when reproductive. Appearance variable
with habitat and time of year. Reproduction known only in
deepest winter and only tetrasporangia reported to date.
Habitat: Growing exclusively on marerl and dead shells
from low water to at least 12 m.
Distribution: Scotland, Ireland, Wales, SW
England, Brittany, NW Spain. Likely to occur wherever maerl beds
are found in the NE Atlantic. Also reported from Argentina.
Key characteristics: Red colour, creeping habit,
irregular branching, maerl habitat.
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