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Project Noah Nature School
Corallina officinalis (?) [Coral Weed]
"Thalli comprising extensive crustose holdfasts bearing one to several erect, pinnately branched, articulated fronds." Reddish-pink "thalli" (leaves) white at the tips (as in 4th photo) is the common appearance. In this case, however, the entire specimen is white, as if completely calcified (aka "bleached").
At this survey site in Pacific Grove CA, Corallina extended along the lower portion of rocks in Zone 3, where the rocks met the sandy bottom. This specimen, however, was by itself on a bed of Endocladia and Mastocarpus at the top of Zone 2, completely exposed at low tide.
Is this an example of Corallina completely calcified, or of a different species?
Spotted on Apr 5, 2014
Submitted on May 18, 2014
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