Dilsea carnosa (Schimidel) O. Kuntze
Also known as D. edulis and as "False dulse". It is not edible.
Description: Dark caramine red, frequently becoming
yellow-green at apices, thick, flattened cartilaginous fronds,
arising in groups of small, medium and large from a thick,
discoid holdfast (see photo below), obtuse, ovate with tapered
base, to 500 mm long, 250 mm broad; sometimes with small holes.
Larger blades reproducing in December and January. Stands
probably persist for many years as the disk produces new blades
continuously.
Habitat: On rock in shady pools, lower intertidal on
rock, and shallow subtidal to 25 m, usually on rock in kelp
forests; widely distributed, common.
Similar species: This is the thickest and most
cartilaginous of the broad, leaf-like species. Can be confused
with
Schizymenia dubyi
and
Kallymenia reniformis, both of which are thinner and softer. Young plants are
characteristically ligulate.
Palmaria palmata has
usually one or more narrowly forking dichotomies, and is thinner
and more slippery.
Species list
Photographs © M.D. Guiry
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