Ulva fenestrata Postels & Ruprecht
Common names: Sea Lettuce. Glasán (Irish).
Please note: Formerly known as Ulva lactuca in NE
Atlantic. Recent studies have shown that
Ulva lactuca is a warm-temperate to tropical species
and the entity called Ulva lactuca in the NE Atlantic
is correctly Ulva fenestrata.
Description: Thallus sheet-like, light green,
rather delicate and translucent, to 250 mm long. Persists
throughout the year.
Habitat: On rock and in lower-shore rock pools,
and in the shallow subtidal.
Distribution: Common and widely distributed in
the NE Atlantic and N Pacific. Staus elsewhere requires further
study.
Key characteristics: light green colour and
translucent thallus; however, this and other species of
Ulva in the NE Atlantic require expert identification,
and even then there is much dispute as to the status of the
various species that have been reported from various areas of
the NE Atlantic including
U. rigida, U. gigantea, U.
scandinavica, and U. armoricana.
Usage: Brent Geese (Light-bellied Brent below
at Silver Strand, near Galway) eat Ulva at low tide.
Ulva is collected and used dried in salads and as a
garnish.
Photographs © M.D. Guiry
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