| Description: |
A small red seaweed (up to 20 cm across) exhibits a variety of colors and hues. Thallus reddish brown, brownish, grey brown or olive green in the field. The blades are greenish when young, becoming purplish-red and light to dark reddish-brown. At low tide, ledges exhibits pink, purple and black hues. Has a circular shaped, broad frond that is membranous and has a polythene-like texture. The plants are just one cell layer thick and translucent, but show extreme resilience, holding itself in place by a tiny discoid stout holdfast. Usually, the blade expands around the holdfast and appears pleated or resembles a rosette. They dry in the sun to a lustrous black or brownish purple. It has a short lifespan, but is reproduces quickly. |
Species:
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Porphyra umbilicalis (Linnaeus) Kützing |
