Biodiversity & Conservation

Dulse - Palmaria palmata - General information

Palmaria palmata

Image Keith Hiscock - Palmaria palmata fronds on lower eulittoral rock. Image width ca 15 cm.
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Distribution map

Palmaria palmata recorded (dark blue bullet) and expected (light blue bullet) distribution in Britain and Ireland (see below)

Why do the maps differ?

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Palmaria palmata is not listed under any importance categories.

General information

Key Icon Researched by: Jacqueline Hill Text page icon Refereed by: Dr Thomas Wiedemann

Taxonomy icon Taxonomy

Phylum Rhodophyta Red seaweeds
Class Rhodophyta Red seaweeds
Map icon Recorded distribution in Britain and Ireland Generally distributed throughout Britain and Ireland, but apparently absent from significant stretches of coast in eastern England.
Habitat information icon Habitat information Epilithic and epiphytic, especially on Laminaria hyperborea stipes. Littoral and sublittoral to a depth of 20 m in both sheltered and moderately exposed areas.
Text page icon Description A foliose red algae with a tough flat frond usually between 20 and 50 cm in length, but sometimes up to 1m. The algae grows directly from a small discoid holdfast gradually widening and subdividing. The stipe is inconspicuous, rarely to 5 mm long. Older parts may have small 'leaflets' along the margin especially where damaged. Dark red, with purple tints under water.

This review can be cited as follows:

Jacqueline Hill 2008. Palmaria palmata. Dulse. Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Sub-programme [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. [cited 22/05/2013]. Available from: <http://www.marlin.ac.uk/speciesfullreview.php?speciesID=4028>