Red algae

Description:

Rhodophyta, red alga. Alga that forms dense masses 2.5 to 8 centimeters high. Erect and calcified, with a tubular or slightly flattened vegetative body, arborescent, articulated and dichotomically branched (each axis is divided into two equal parts). It is fixed to the substrate by a wide disk. Due to calcification, the branches are broken. Very variable coloration depending on the environment in which it is found: in places with a lot of waves it has a whitish color, but it can also be pink and red to dark purple. With the naked eye you can see the reproductive structures that are located on the most extreme twigs of the alga. They are round in shape and do not have a foot, but are glued directly to the branch.

Habitat:

Rocky coast mediterranean sea. Isla Plana (Murcia)