Naccaria wiggii (Turner) Endlicher

Description: Gametangial phase attached by a discoid holdfast and erect to 25 cms long much branched bearing short side ramuli in spirals.

Habitat: Rare. Epiphytic in the sublittoral to 20 m.

Distribution: Widely distributed in the south-west of the British Isles from Ireland, England , Wales and the Isle of Man. Europe: Mediterranean, Atlantic coasts of Spain and France. Further afield: Canary Islands.

Similar Species: Gloiosiphonia capillaris is similar but cystocarps in Naccaria envelope the axis near the tips.

Key Identification Features:

• Final filamentous branches arranged in spirals.

Distribution Map from BioMar data for Ireland - Google Earth map:  download this placemark (not got Google Earth installed?)

Distribution Map from NBN: JNCC MNCR Seasearch data - Grid map : Interactive map : National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

Morton, O. & Picton, B.E., 2010. [In] Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland http://www.habitas.org.uk/marinelife/species.asp?item=ZM1960

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