''Nemalion helminthoides'' is a small marine alga in the division

Rhodophyta Red algae, or Rhodophyta (, ; ), are one of the oldest groups of eukaryotic algae. The Rhodophyta also comprises one of the largest phyla of algae, containing over 7,000 currently recognized species with taxonomic revisions ongoing. The majority ...

Description

This is a fairly large erect alga which grows to no more than 0.4 m long. The frond is erect with a solid axis. It is very mucilaginous and with few branches which are elongate growing from a discoid base. The central strand is composed of filaments intricately entangled.Dixon, P.S. and Irvine, L.M.1977. ''Seaweeds of the British Isles Volume 1 Rhodophyta Part 1 Introduction, Nemaliales, Gigartinales.'' British Museum (Natural History)

Habitat

Midlittoral, epilithic and on ''Balanus''Hardy, F.G and Guiry, M.D. 2003. ''A Check-list and Atlas of the Seaweeds of Britain and Ireland''. The British Phycological Society. ''Patella''.

Reproduction

The life-history is not fully confirmed. However

carpospore A carpospore is a diploid spore produced by red algae. After fertilization, the alga's carpogonium subdivides into carpospores, and generally the largest type of spore (larger than bispores, which are larger again than tetraspores Tetraspores are ...

s and tetrasporangia have been recorded.

Distribution

Generally distributed around the European coast and the Atlantic coast of North America.

Note

The spelling of the specific name is in older references spelt without the first letter "h". However ''helminthoides'' is considered more correct.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q30694558 Nemaliales