Osmundea hybrida is a fairly small marine red alga.
Description Osmundea hybrida is small branched alga which grows from a holdfast to 15 mm long. The axes show a main axis with branches which may be spiral or irregular. The main axis may be slightly compressed with a medulla of cells surrounded by a cortex deep purplish-brown in colour. A small circular pit occurs at the apex of the branches.Maggs, C.A. and Hommersand, M.H.1993 Seaweeds of the British Isles Volume 1 Rhodophyta Part 3A Ceramiales
Habitat Common but not as common as Osmundea pinnatifida.Morton, O. 1994. Marine Algae of Northern Ireland. Ulster Museum. Epilithic in the littoral on stones, rock and on limpets.Newton, L. 1931.A Handbook of the British Seaweeds. British Museum (Natural History)
Reproduction Spermatangial receptacles, where the male gametes occur in small cups, are at the end of the side branches. Cystocarps are spherical and sessile and tetraspores are produced in small branchlets.
Distribution This alga is to be found all around the British Isles as far north as Shetland.Hardy, F.G. and Guiry, M.D.2003. A Check-list and Atlas of the Seaweeds of Britain and Ireland British Phycological Society Further south it is recorded to Portugal.
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