Red cellophane • Wildemania amplissima, formerly W. cuneiformis and Porphyra cuneiformis
{amplissima = handsome}
Red cellophane growing on pieces of loose ahnfelt's seaweed. Specimen collection number SCL 15317 in the UBC Herbarium Algae Database. Search the collection number in the database for more information on these specimen, or search the species for further occurrences. Images courtesy of Sandra Lindstrom.
Identification
This red seaweed has thin blades, composed of only two cell layers (distromatic). The light pink blades are variable in shape and can grow to over 100 cm long. Reproductive cells scattered along the ruffled blade edges can produce a filmy appearance.
Habitat & Range
Red cellophane grows on rock and empty clam shells, as well as epiphytically on other seaweeds including bleached brunette (Cryptosiphonia woodii). The above specimens were found growing on loose Ahnfelt's seaweed (Ahnfeltiopsis gigartinoides). It can be found in the low intertidal and upper subtidal of sandy beaches in spring and early summer. Its range extends from the Aleutian Islands, Alaska south to the Monterey Peninsula in California. It is also found in Russia and the North Atlantic.
Similar Species
Species with similarly thin, pinkish blades include Wildemania occidentalis and some Pyropia species.
iNaturalist
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/564958-Wildemania-amplissima
This red seaweed has thin blades, composed of only two cell layers (distromatic). The light pink blades are variable in shape and can grow to over 100 cm long. Reproductive cells scattered along the ruffled blade edges can produce a filmy appearance.
Habitat & Range
Red cellophane grows on rock and empty clam shells, as well as epiphytically on other seaweeds including bleached brunette (Cryptosiphonia woodii). The above specimens were found growing on loose Ahnfelt's seaweed (Ahnfeltiopsis gigartinoides). It can be found in the low intertidal and upper subtidal of sandy beaches in spring and early summer. Its range extends from the Aleutian Islands, Alaska south to the Monterey Peninsula in California. It is also found in Russia and the North Atlantic.
Similar Species
Species with similarly thin, pinkish blades include Wildemania occidentalis and some Pyropia species.
iNaturalist
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/564958-Wildemania-amplissima
References
Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. (2016). Wildemania amplissima Foslie. AlgaeBase. National University of Ireland, Galway. Accessed 15/04/2016.
Lindberg, M. and Lindstrom, S. (2015). Seaweeds of Alaska. Fairbanks, Alaska: Alaska Sea Grant College Program, University of Alaska Fairbanks. P. 130.
O'Clair, R. and Lindstrom, S. Porphyra cuneiformis (Setchell et Hus) Krishnamurthy 1972. In Klinkenberg, Brian. (Ed.). E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Plants of British Columbia. Lab for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver. Accessed 15/04/2015.
Authors and editors of page
Kelly Fretwell (2016).
Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. (2016). Wildemania amplissima Foslie. AlgaeBase. National University of Ireland, Galway. Accessed 15/04/2016.
Lindberg, M. and Lindstrom, S. (2015). Seaweeds of Alaska. Fairbanks, Alaska: Alaska Sea Grant College Program, University of Alaska Fairbanks. P. 130.
O'Clair, R. and Lindstrom, S. Porphyra cuneiformis (Setchell et Hus) Krishnamurthy 1972. In Klinkenberg, Brian. (Ed.). E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Plants of British Columbia. Lab for Advanced Spatial Analysis, Department of Geography, University of British Columbia, Vancouver. Accessed 15/04/2015.
Authors and editors of page
Kelly Fretwell (2016).