Ericaria selaginoides (formerly Cystoseira tamariscifolia) is a bushy seaweed, up to 60 cm in length but usually 30-45 cm. It has a cylindrical frond and branches irregularly. The reproductive bodies on the end of branches are long, oval and spiny. Small air bladders are usually found below the reproductive bodies. Ericaria selaginoides is olive green in colour, almost black when dry. When the plant is seen underwater it has a blue-green iridescence.

May be confused with other species of Ericaria and Cystoseira but can be distinguished by the characteristic blue-green iridescence when the plant is underwater.

Link for MarLIN

The antifungal and anti-aflatoxinogenic activity of the brown alga Cystoseira
tamariscifolia has also been studied against pathogenic and toxigenic strains of yeasts
and moulds (Zinedine, Elakhdari, Faid, & Benlemlih, 2004). Namely, antimicrobial
effect of different alga extracts (using methanol, ethanol, diethyl ether, hexane,
chloroform and water) was investigated. Results from inhibitory tests showed that only
ethanolic extracts present antimicrobial activity against moulds and yeasts. The growth
of two types of yeasts, Candida albicans HSZ02 and Candida albicans IP4872, was
completely inhibited by a concentration of 50 ppm and 100 ppm of ethanolic extract of
this alga. The growth of the species Sacharomyces cerevisiae S326 was affected by 25
ppm of ethanol extract. For moulds, the growth of Penicillium cyclopium strain IP1231-
80 was inhibited by 50 ppm while the growth of all Aspergillus strains used was
inhibited by 100 ppm of the same extract. The ethanolic extract of Cystoseira
tamariscifolia showed also aptitude to reduce the production of Aflatoxin B1 by
Aspergillus parasiticus NRRL2999. Results showed that the reduction on aflatoxin B1
biosynthesis was, respectively, about 25,4, 37,6, 75,8, and 96,3 % by 10, 25, 50 and 100
ppm of the ethanolic extract (Plaza et al., 2008).

Aldanondo-Aristizabal, González González, R. & Gil-Rodríguez, M.C. (2004). Acerca de Cystoseira tamariscifolia en Tenerife y La Palma (Islas Canarias). Revista de la Academia Canaria de Ciencias XV: 115-128.

Loiseaux-de Goër, S. & Noailles, M.-C. (2008). Algues de Roscoff. pp. [1]-215, col. figs. Roscoff: Editions de la Station Biologique de Roscoff.

Basionym: Fucus tamariscifolius Hudson

Type locality: “In littoribus marinis (on the coast of Cornwall)” (Cornwall, England} (Hudson 1762: 469). Notes: Silva et al. (1996) recommend consulting Roberts (1968: 256) for further information regarding the type locality of this species.