Chaetomorpha linum is a species of green algae in the family Cladophoraceae.
Chaetomorpha linum and Chaetomorpha aerea are considered by some authors to be conspecific.Burrows, E.M. 1991. Seaweeds of the British Isles Volume 2 Chlorophyta. Natural History Museum, London This is not accepted by other authorities.Hardy, F.G. and Guiry, M.D. 2003. A Check-list and Atlas of the Seaweeds of Britain and Ireland. The British Phycological Society .
Description Chaetomorpha linum is a species composed of fine hair-like, uniseriate, unbranched filaments. Cells 1 - 2 times as long as broad, maximum width 585μm. Cells cylindrical or barrel-shaped.Guiry, M.D., John, D.M., Rindi, F. and McCarthy, T.K. 2007. New Survey of Clare Island Volume 6: The Terrestrial Algae. p.98 Royal Irish Academy Both unattached (C. linum) and attached (C. aerea) forms exist. The unattached plants form masses of twisted filaments the attached filament grow as tufts from a definite base.Newton, L. 1931. A Handbook of the British Seaweeds. British Museum, London
Habitat In Ireland found in fresh water. Both attached and unattached forms are to be found in marine waters.
Distribution Both C. linum and C. aerea are found around the British Isles and around Europe into the Mediterranean and Mar Menor. In North America it is to be found along the Atlantic coast and in California.
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