Laurencia obtusa (Hudson) J.V. Lamouroux

Laurencia obtusa © Peter Wirtz

Description: Globose tufts of brittle, cartilaginous, narrow, cylindrical, reddish brown to yellowish red fronds, 150 mm long, from small discoid base. Axis simple, branches patent, often opposite, spirally arranged, shorter towards apex giving irregularly pyramidal outline. Ultimate ramuli very short, truncate. With special refringent inclusions in cortical cells (corps en cerise).
Habitat: Usually epiphytic, annual, lower intertidal, widely distributed (mainly on southern and western shores), occasional to frequent.
Similar species: Laurencia pyramidalis Bory de Saint-Vincent ex Kützing occurs in the Scilly and Channel Islands southwards, but has a more regular pyramidal outline.

Species list