''Lithophyllum incrustans'', also known by its common names coraline crust and paint weed, is a small pinkish species of
seaweed
Seaweed, or macroalgae, refers to thousands of species of macroscopic, multicellular, marine algae. The term includes some types of '' Rhodophyta'' (red), ''Phaeophyta'' (brown) and ''Chlorophyta'' (green) macroalgae. Seaweed species such as ...
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Description
This is a small encrusting,
[Fritch, F.E. 1965. ''The Structure and Reproduction of the Algae Volume 2.'' Cambridge University Press p 508] calcareous alga, growing epiphytically as a flat lobed plant up to 10 cm in diameter and up to several mm forming thick adherent crusts. It can become knobbly with overlapping lobes and a smooth surface. In colour it is pinkish but may become bleached.
[Irvine, L.M. and Chamberlain, Y.M. 1994 ''Seaweeds of the British Isles Volume 1 Rhodophyta Part 2B Corallinales, Hildenbrandiales''pp75 - 81 The Natural History Museum ]
Reproduction
Tetrasporangial and
bisporangial conceptacles
Conceptacles are specialized cavities of marine and freshwater algae that contain the reproductive organs. They are situated in the receptacle and open by a small ostiole.Boney, A.D. (1969). ''A Biology of Marine Algae''. Hutchinson Educational Lt ...
occur sunken pits.
[Hardy, F.G. and Guiry, M.D. 2003. ''A Check-list and Atlas of the Seaweeds of Britain and Ireland.'' The British Phycological Society 2003.] Plants usually
gametangial,
Spermatangial conceptacles in shallow chambers.
Carposporangial chambers flask-shaped.
[
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Distribution
Found all around the Great Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Mann
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in Europe ...
and the Channel Islands, rarer on the east coast of England. In Europe recorded from Faroes, Norway to the Mediterranean.[
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Ecology
Common in shallow pools and under cover.[ Grows abundantly in the mid-littoral to 8 metres depth.][
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References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q10319018
Other External links
Dickinson, C.I. 1963. British Seaweeds. Eyre & Spottisqoode
Corallinaceae
Animals described in 1837