Osmundea hybrida is a fairly small marine red alga.

Osmundea hybrida
Two branchy clusters of plant printed in a textbook page
Osmundea Hyprida
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Clade: Archaeplastida
Division: Rhodophyta
Class: Florideophyceae
Order: Ceramiales
Family: Rhodomelaceae
Genus: Osmundea
Species:
O. hybrida
Binomial name
Osmundea hybrida
(A.P.de Candolle) K.W.Nam
Synonyms[1]
  • Fucus hybridus A.P.de Candolle 1805
  • Laurencia hybrida (A.P.de Candolle) T.Lestiboudois 1827
  • Laurencia caespitosa var. subsimplex Montagne
  • Fucus pinnatifidus var. angustus Turner 1802
  • Laurencia caespitosa J.V.Lamouroux 1813
  • Laurencia pinnatifida var. angusta (Turner) Greville 1830

Description

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Osmundea hybrida is small branched alga which grows from a holdfast to 15 mm long. The axes show a main axis with branches which may be spiral or irregular. The main axis may be slightly compressed with a medulla of cells surrounded by a cortex deep purplish-brown in colour. A small circular pit occurs at the apex of the branches.[2]

Habitat

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Common but not as common as Osmundea pinnatifida.[3] Epilithic in the littoral on stones, rock and on limpets.[4][2]

Reproduction

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Spermatangial receptacles, where the male gametes occur in small cups, are at the end of the side branches. Cystocarps are spherical and sessile and tetraspores are produced in small branchlets.[2]

Distribution

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This alga is to be found all around the British Isles as far north as Shetland.[5] Further south it is recorded to Portugal.[2]

References

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  1. ^ Guiry, M.D.; Guiry, G.M. (2019). "Osmundea hybrida". AlgaeBase. National University of Ireland, Galway. Retrieved 21 November 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d Maggs, C.A. and Hommersand, M.H.1993 Seaweeds of the British Isles Volume 1 Rhodophyta Part 3A CeramialesISBN 0 11 310045 0
  3. ^ Morton, O. 1994. Marine Algae of Northern Ireland. Ulster Museum.ISBN 0 900761 28 8
  4. ^ Newton, L. 1931.A Handbook of the British Seaweeds. British Museum (Natural History)
  5. ^ Hardy, F.G. and Guiry, M.D.2003. A Check-list and Atlas of the Seaweeds of Britain and Ireland British Phycological SocietyISBN 0 9527115 16