Biodiversity & Conservation

Lance-shaped eyelash weed - Calliblepharis jubata

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Calliblepharis jubata recorded () and expected () distribution in Britain and Ireland (see below)

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Calliblepharis jubata is not listed under any importance categories.

Taxonomy	Taxon	English term
Phylum	Rhodophyta	Red seaweeds
Class	Florideophyceae
Authority	(Goodenough et Woodward) Kützig
Recent synonyms	Calliblepharis lanceolata
Recorded Distribution in Britain and Ireland	Calliblepharis jubata has a predominantly western distribution. It has been recorded on the south and west coasts of England, around the coastline of Ireland, the Isle of Man and the west coast of Scotland.
Habitat information	Calliblepharis jubata is epilithic and epiphytic and can grow on other seaweeds, on rocks in pools of the lower eulittoral zone, down into the Laminaria zone. It can also be found in both sheltered and moderately exposed localities and is tolerant of some sand cover.
Description	Calliblepharis jubata is brownish red in colour. It has a thallus consisting of a branched holdfast that gives rise to an erect frond that expands into a dichotomous or irregularly divided blade. The outline of the frond is variable but it commonly has a cylindrical or very slightly compressed stipe. Its blades are about 6 mm broad and 30 cm long with narrow branches. The branches appear long and tendril like. Long branchlets (proliferations) arise from the blade surface and margins of the branches.
Identifying features	Tufted brownish red plant. Branched holdfast. Lanceolate shaped lobes. Long branchlets (proliferations) up to 3 cm in length that are sometimes hooked or coiled at the tips.
Additional information	Calliblepharis jubata is a gametangial plant with male and female reproductive organs (dioecious). The male reproductive structures (spermatangia) have been recorded in the British Isles but not described. The female reproductive structures (cystocarps) are 1-2 mm in diameter and become visible around April forming prominent globose structures on the branchlets. The asexual reproductive structures (tetrasporangia) that are rarely recorded but are known to appear for April, June and July. These are found on the branchlets, though they may sometimes occur sparingly on the blades. The tetrasporangia develop in the cortex with zonately arranged tetraspores but no further information is available. The blades of Calliblepharis jubata may vary in width and the degree of subdivision. In Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly specimens occur that are unlike the normally accepted appearance, these have particularly broad fronds up to 15 mm long (Dixon & Irvine, 1977). Calliblepharis jubata is very similar to Calliblepharis ciliata. However, the latter has smaller branchlets (5 mm) and a wider frond. Calliblepharis jubata matures in summer, with the appearance of cystoscarps and spermatangia. Calliblepharis ciliata mature throughout the winter (Dixon & Irvine, 1977). Specimens of Calliblepharis jubata with narrow blades may also be confused with Gigartina acicularis. However, Gigartina acicularis is a rigid plant that reaches maturity in winter, while Calliblepharis jubata is not rigid. Very young Calliblepharis jubata may also resemble Gelidium spp. However, the cortical cells of Calliblepharis jubata are much larger (7-15 µm) although microscopic examination is required to differentiate between them (Dixon & Irvine, 1977).

This review can be cited as follows:

Marisa Sabatini 2006. Calliblepharis jubata. Lance-shaped eyelash weed. Marine Life Information Network: Biology and Sensitivity Key Information Sub-programme [on-line]. Plymouth: Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom. [cited 03/09/2010]. Available from: <http://www.marlin.ac.uk/speciesinformation.php?speciesID=2841>

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Calliblepharis jubata

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Lance-shaped eyelash weed

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Calliblepharis jubata