Phymatolithon calcareum (Pallas) W.H.Adey & D.L.McKibbin ex Woelkering & L.M.Irvine 1986
Current name:
Phymatolithon calcareum (Pallas) W.H.Adey & D.L.McKibbin ex Woelkering & L.M.Irvine
Iles de Glenán, Brittany, France; collection of maerl for agricultural purposes - 10 June 1972. Gerald Blunden (gerald.blunden@port.ac.uk)
Publication Details
Phymatolithon calcareum (Pallas) W.H.Adey & D.L.McKibbin ex Woelkering & L.M.Irvine 1986: 75
Published in: Woelkerling, W.J. & Irvine, L.M. (1986). The typification and status of Phymatolithon (Corallinaceae, Rhodophyta). British Phycological Journal 21: 55-80, 18 figs.
Request PDFType Species
The type species (holotype) of the genus Phymatolithon is Phymatolithon polymorphum Foslie.
Status of Name
This name is of an entity that is currently accepted taxonomically.
Basionym
Millepora calcarea Pallas
Type Information
Neotype locality: Falmouth Harbour, Cornwall, England; (Chamberlain & Irvine 1994: 212) Neotype: W.F. Farnham; 11.xii.1983; subtidal; BM; Box 1626 (Chamberlain & Irvine 1994: 212) Notes: Chamberlain & Irvine (1994) recommend consulting Woelkerling & Irvine (1986a: figs 1,15) for more information on the neotype of this species. Isoneotypes: BM, LTB
Origin of Species Name
Adjective (Latin), chalky, limy (Stearn 1983).
General Environment
This is a marine species.
Description
Fragile, reddish-violet, branched, calcareous fronds; branches 2-3 mm diam.; very variable in form and difficult to identify with certainty; commonest form resemble stag's horns of irregular diameter.
Habitat
Free-living in clear, clean water from 0-25 m, occasionally to 32 m, forming extensive beds of live and dead material, particularly where there are subtidal currents. It is the main constituent of maërl. Widely distributed, abundant. SW England (Cornwall), SW and W Ireland (notably Bantry Bay and Galway Bay), N to Shetland. In a few areas on the W coast of Ireland, beaches almost entirely composed of dead fragments of maërl are found; perhaps the best-known of these is Trá an Dóilín near An Chéathrú Rua (Carraroe) and several at Ballconeeley in Co. Galway.
Similar Species
Lithothamnion corallioides
Created: 30 March 1996 by M.D. Guiry.
Last updated: 30 October 2024
Verification of Data
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Linking to this page: https://www.algaebase.org/search/species/detail/?species_id=4
Citing AlgaeBase
Cite this record as:
M.D. Guiry in Guiry, M.D. & Guiry, G.M. 30 October 2024. AlgaeBase. World-wide electronic publication, National University of Ireland, Galway. https://www.algaebase.org; searched on 21 November 2024
