Phyllophora sicula
Species of algea
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Phyllophora sicula, the hand leaf bearer, is a small red marine alga.[1]
| Phyllophora sicula | |
|---|---|
| |
| A specimen of Phyllophora sicula | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Clade: | Archaeplastida |
| Division: | Rhodophyta |
| Class: | Florideophyceae |
| Order: | Gigartinales |
| Family: | Phyllophoraceae |
| Genus: | Phyllophora |
| Species: | P. sicula |
| Binomial name | |
| Phyllophora sicula (Kützing) Guiry & L.M.Irvine | |
Description
This small red alga grows to a length of 20 mm (0.8 in), erect from a disc shaped holdfast. It has a short, erect, terete stipe which expands as a flattened blade branching once or twice. The blades have a cartilaginous texture with a medulla of large cells within a cortex of one or two layers of small cells.[2][3]
Reproduction
Gametangial plants are unknown. Tetrasporangial patches occur in the center of the blade.[3]
Habitat
It is found in rock pools of the lower littoral and in the sublittoral to depths of 12 m (39 ft).[3]
Distribution
It is generally recorded from the southwest of Great Britain, Ireland, Portugal, and elsewhere in the Mediterranean.[3] The type locality is in Italy.[1]