Lithophyllum incrustans

Lithophyllum incrustans
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Clade:	Archaeplastida
Division:	Rhodophyta
Class:	Florideophyceae
Order:	Corallinales
Family:	Corallinaceae
Genus:	Lithophyllum
Species:	L. incrustans
Binomial name
	Lithophyllum incrustans; Philippi, 1837
Synonyms
	Crodelia incrustans (Philippi) Heydrich, 1911 ; Hyperantherella incrustans (Philippi) Heydrich, 1901 ; Lithophyllum incrustans f. angulata Foslie ; Lithothamnion incrustans (Philippi) Foslie, 1895 ; Lithothamnion incrustans f. depressum (P.L.Crouan & H.M.Crouan) Foslie, 1895 (synonym) ; Lithothamnion polymorphum f. confluens (Kützing) Vinassa, 1892 (synonym) ; Spongites confluens Kützing, 1841;

Lithophyllum incrustans, also known by its common names coraline crust and paint weed,^[1]^[2] is a small pinkish species of seaweed.^[3]

Description

This is a small encrusting,^[4] 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.^[5]

Reproduction

Tetrasporangial and bisporangial conceptacles occur sunken pits.^[6] Plants usually gametangial, Spermatangial conceptacles in shallow chambers. Carposporangial chambers flask-shaped.^[5]

Distribution

Found all around the Great Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands, rarer on the east coast of England. In Europe recorded from Faroes, Norway to the Mediterranean.^[5]

Ecology

Common in shallow pools and under cover.^[5] Grows abundantly in the mid-littoral to 8 metres depth.^[6]

References

↑ David Chapman (2008). Exploring the Cornish Coast. Penzance: Alison Hodge. p. 31. ISBN 9780906720561.
↑ "Os nomes galegos das algas" (PDF). A Chave (in Galician). 2020. p. 27. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
↑ Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. (2021). "Lithophyllum incrustans Philippi, 1837". WoRMS. World Register of Marine Species.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
↑ Fritch, F.E. 1965. The Structure and Reproduction of the Algae Volume 2. Cambridge University Press p 508
1 2 3 4 Irvine, L.M. and Chamberlain, Y.M. 1994 Seaweeds of the British Isles Volume 1 Rhodophyta Part 2B Corallinales, Hildenbrandialespp75 - 81 The Natural History Museum ISBN 0 11 3100167
1 2 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.ISBN 0952711516