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Ceramium secundatum Lyngbye
Le Jolis
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RHODOPHYCEAE
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(following vessel weed)
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| Photo details | ||
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Plant growing on pebble (right) on silty shell gravel in a sheltered bay together with Polysiphonia elongata (left). Scale: Plant length 7cm. Location:Martins Haven, Pembrokeshire - Photographer:F. Bunker - Date:10/08/2001 - Identified By:F. Bunker - Verified By:C. Maggs |
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| Identification Notes | ||
| A non-spiny corticated Ceramium growing 5 to 14 cm high. The main axis may be dominant and is 0.4 to 1.0 mm in basal diameter usually becoming markedly constricted between nodes. Branching initially pseudodichotomous at 45º but often appearing to have a distinct main axis due to unequal development of the branches. Plants are usually complanate and flabellate initially with strongly inrolled apices but mature tetrasporangial axes straighten out at tips and cystocarpic axes branch less regularly. Dichotomies occur every 8-15 segments, with the range of branching intervals within a single specimen 2-5 (mean 3.17). A section through the main axis reveals 7, 7-8, 8, or 9 periaxial cells in individual specimens. Texture of plants is brittle when fresh, becoming cartilaginous when older and the colour is a dull brownish-red. Other characterising features: adventitious branches often formed later near apices and increasing in number during maturation of the thallus, sometimes eventually clothing and partly obscuring the main axis. Plants are dioecious with spermatangial sori forming a continuous cover or extensive pale patches on young axes. cystocarps consisting of 2 to 3 globular or slightly lobed gonimolobes 350 to 600 mm in diameter. Tetrasporangia borne in whorls at each node on yourger axes covered in cortical cells causing swelling at nodes as they enlarge, spherical and 50 to 60 mm in diameter when mature. Maggs & Hommersand, 1993 |
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| Confusion | ||
| Easily confused with other littoral non-spiny corticated Ceramium species i.e. Ceramium nodulosum and Ceramium botryocarpum. Ceramium pallidum is distinguishable by its much more regular branching interval, typically 4-8 segments between branches. The form of branching and branching interval are the best distinguishing features. (See description of other species and the downloadable ' Field ID features of 4 common and easily confused non-spiny corticated Ceramium species occurring on the shore.' |
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| Habitat | ||
| Epiphytic or loose-lying, subtidal to 11 m and in deep sandy lower-shore pools. Sandy habitats esp. Zostera beds. |
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| Recorded distribution | ||
| Generally distributed in the British Isles. |
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| Researched by | ||
| F. Bunker / C. Maggs |
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| Synonyms | ||
| Ceramium rubrum |
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| Acknowledgements | ||
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Additional Photos
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| Plant growing on pebble (right) on silty shell gravel in a sheltered bay together with Polysiphonia elongata (left). Scale: Plant length 7cm. Location:Martins Haven, Pembrokeshire - Photographer:F. Bunker - Date:10/08/2001 - Identified By:F. Bunker - Verified By:C. Maggs | ||
| Strongly incurved apices of plant and fully corticated frond. Note the fringe of hairs - not to be confused with the presence of spines: Width of frond 150 μm Location:Martins Haven, Pembrokeshire - Photographer:F. Bunker - Date:10/08/2001 - Identified By:F. Bunker - Verified By:C. Maggs | ||
| Strongly incurved apices of plant and fully corticated frond. Note the fringe of hairs - not to be confused with the presence of spines: Width of frond 150 μm Location:Martins Haven, Pembrokeshire - Photographer:F. Bunker - Date:10/08/2001 - Identified By:F. Bunker - Verified By:C. Maggs | ||
| Whole plant in sandy lower shore rock pool. Scale: Approximately 14 cm long Location:Manorbier, Pembrokeshire - Photographer:F. Bunker - Date:07/05/2001 - Identified By:F. Bunker - Verified By: | ||
| Links | ||
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Field ID Sheet for Corticated Ceramiums
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