Cordylecladia erecta (Greville) J Agardh

Description: Simple erect terete fronds 11 cms long with few irregular branches growing upwards from a discoid holdfast. Bright to dark red in colour.

Habitat: Epilithic, generally sublittoral to 30 m.

Distribution: Generally western around the British Isles including the Shetlands but being sublittoral and probably under-recorded. Europe: Atlantic coasts of Spain and France.

Similar Species: Said to be sometimes confused with Gracilaria gracilis, the latter is however elastic and grows to 60 cms or more in length.

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.