Distribution data supplied by the Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS). To interrogate UK data visit the NBN Atlas.Map Help
Researched by | Rose Edwards | Refereed by | Admin |
Authority | (J.Agardh) Falkenberg, 1901 | ||
Other common names | - | Synonyms | - |
Chondria coerulescens has bluish or yellowish fronds with blue iridescence. The fronds are flexible and cartilaginous in texture, turning black when dry. Young axes show a striking turquoise iridescence when alive. The thalli consist of cylindrical erect axes or trailing tufts, and is 3-8 cm high when erect. The distinct main axis is 0.4-0.5 mm in diameter, branching sparsely at irregular intervals in a spiral pattern to 1-3 orders of branching. Branches are linear, often long and curve downwards gradually tapering to a slender point, and reattach by secondary holdfast. The morphology shows relatively little variation except that some thalli consist only of inconspicuous isolated erect axes whereas others form dense tufts.
Chondria coerulescens may be confused with Laurencia obtusa. Microscope examination of the periaxial (surrounding the axis) cells would be needed to separate them. Although Chondria coerulescens is nationally rare, it can be abundant in favourable habitats.
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National Trust, 2017. National Trust Species Records. Occurrence dataset: https://doi.org/10.15468/opc6g1 accessed via GBIF.org on 2018-10-01.
NBN (National Biodiversity Network) Atlas. Available from: https://www.nbnatlas.org.
OBIS (Ocean Biodiversity Information System), 2023. Global map of species distribution using gridded data. Available from: Ocean Biogeographic Information System. www.iobis.org. Accessed: 2023-03-24
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, 2018. Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh Herbarium (E). Occurrence dataset: https://doi.org/10.15468/ypoair accessed via GBIF.org on 2018-10-02.
This review can be cited as:
Last Updated: 04/07/2005