Bryopsis plumosa

Summary

Bryopsis plumosa, sometimes known by the common names green algae or hen pen, is a type of green seaweed.

Bryopsis plumosa
Bryopsis plumosa
Scientific classification Edit this classification
(unranked): Viridiplantae
Division: Chlorophyta
Class: Ulvophyceae
Order: Bryopsidales
Family: Bryopsidaceae
Genus: Bryopsis
Species:
B. plumosa
Binomial name
Bryopsis plumosa
(Hudson) C.Agardh, 1823[1]
Synonyms

Bryopsis arbuscula
Conferva tenax (Roth, 1806)
Ulva plumosa (Hudson, 1778)

Taxonomy edit

This species was originally described by William Hudson under the name Ulva plumosa.[2]

Distribution edit

Bryopsis plumosa is found in the British Isles, Europe, the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea, Azores, Portugal, Spain, France, Norway, Faroes and Iceland, on the Atlantic coast of North America, west coast of Greenland, Jamaica, Canary Islands, Senegal, Ghana, Mauritania, South Africa, British Columbia to California, Australia, Japan and New Zealand.[3][4]

Description edit

Bryopsis plumosa has distichous branches with a thallus that is small and erect, growing up to 10 cm long.[4] It is coloured bright green and has a soft, silky texture.[4] The branches arranged in two opposite rows.[5]

Reproduction edit

The species is dioecious; when fertile the male plants turn yellowish-green and the female plants are dark green.[6]

Ecology edit

It can be found in intertidal pools.[4]

Similar species edit

Bryopsis hypnoides can be difficult to distinguish, the branches of B. hypnoides are arranged spirally or irregularly.[7]

References edit

  1. ^ "Bryopsis plumosa (Hudson) C.Agardh, 1823". www.marinespecies.org. Retrieved 2019-01-24.
  2. ^ Hudson, William (1798). Gulielmi Hudsoni, Regiae Societatis Socii et Pharmacopaei Londinensis, Flora anglica : exhibens plantas per regnum Britanniæ sponte crescentes, distributas secundum systema sexuale : cum differentiis specierum, synonymis auctorum, nominibus incolarum, solo locorum, tempore florendi, officinalibus pharmacopæorum. London. p. 571. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.124875.
  3. ^ "Bryopsis plumosa - Marine Life Encyclopedia". www.habitas.org.uk. Retrieved 2019-01-24.
  4. ^ a b c d W. A., Nelson (2013). New Zealand seaweeds : an illustrated guide. Wellington, New Zealand: Te Papa Press. p. 20. ISBN 9780987668813. OCLC 841897290.
  5. ^ Burrows, E.M. 1991. Seaweeds of the British Isles Volume 2 Chlorophyta.ISBN 0-565-00981-8
  6. ^ Dickinson, C.I. 1963 British Seaweeds. The Kew Series
  7. ^ Bunker, F.StP, Brodie, J.A., Maggs, C.A. and Bunker, A.R. 2017 Seaweeds of Britain and Ireland Second edition. Wild Nature Press, Plymouth, UK ISBN 978-0-9955673-3-7