Chondrus crispus Stackhouse

Description: Grows from a discoid holdfast forming erect fronds to a maximum of 20 cms long. Flattened and dichotomously branching 3 or 4 times in fan-like manner. Very variable.

Habitat: Very common. Epilithic in midlittoral rock pools into the sublittoral to 24 m.

Distribution: Widespread around the British Isles including the Shetlands. Europe: Azores, Portugal, Spain, France, Netherlands, Norway and Iceland. Atlantic coast of North America: Canada and the United States from Maine to Delaware.

Similar Species: Mastocarpus stellatus has a channelled frond and reproduces with cystocarps which arise as short papillae.

Key Identification Features:

• Flat frond branching dichotomously.

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.