Ralfsia verrucosa
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| Ralfsia verrucosa | |
|---|---|
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| Ralfsia verrucosa Aresch. | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Clade: | Diaphoretickes |
| Clade: | SAR |
| Clade: | Stramenopiles |
| Phylum: | Gyrista |
| Subphylum: | Ochrophytina |
| Class: | Phaeophyceae |
| Order: | Ralfsiales |
| Family: | Ralfsiaceae |
| Genus: | Ralfsia |
| Species: | R. verrucosa |
| Binomial name | |
| Ralfsia verrucosa Areschoug, 1845[1] | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Ralfsia verrucosa is a species of crustose brown seaweed in the family Ralfsiaceae. It grows intertidally in temperate waters around the world. In South Africa it is part of a mutualistic relationship with a limpet.
Ralfsia verrucosa forms roughly circular patches that grow outwards from the centre with the central parts sometimes becoming detached from the substrate. The thallus is deep brown or blackish-brown and is about 1 mm (0.04 in) thick. It has a distinct, often pale-coloured, margin which is formed from erect filaments which are fused together and that curve upwards from other prostrate filaments.[2][3] The patches of thalli are thick, some 2 to 10 cm (1 to 4 in) in diameter and often coalescing to form larger patches. The surface is smooth and hard.[4]