Gelidiella calcicola

Gelidiella calcicola Maggs and Guiry is a rare seaweed species in the Rhodophyta, described for the first time in 1987. It has been found at only 20 sites in the British Isles.

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Botanical description

Gelidiella calcicola Maggs and Guiry

G. calcicolais a small creeping alga found on calcareous substrata. It forms prostrate low-growing tufts creeping over the surface of calcareous substrata. The narrow compressed axes form peg-like rhizoidal attachment organs. The axes branch laterally to form irregular pinnate branches. There are no true erect axes since all branches are in an horizontal plane. The axes which grow up at first always curve down and re-attach. They grow to at least 30mm long and are dark reddish brown. The species is very rare and may be under–recorded. It is sublittoral and not easily determined.

Similar species: Gelidium pusillum is common in the British Isles and is similar in structure however it branches regularly and the production of tetraspores in stichnidia is different as is the internal structure when studied microscopically.