RHODOPHYTA : Corallinales : HapalidiaceaeRED ALGAE

Leptophytum bornetii (Foslie) Adey


Description: An encrusting coralline up to 1 mm thick and generally flat. However when growing over stones it is irregularly shaped following the shape of the stone. It may grow to 5 or 6 cm wide or more. Without orbital ridges. Conceptacles rims raised and slightly lower centre.

Habitat: Rare. Epilithic in lower littoral and upper sublittoral to 1 m.

Distribution: British Isles: England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. Europe: Cherbourg in France and Spain.

Similar Species: Leptophytum laeve and Leptophytum elatum both of which have a low rim to the conceptacles.

Key Identification Features:

  • Conceptacles rising with a flattened and sunken centre reminding one of apothecia of some lichens.

Distribution Map from NBN: Leptophytum bornetii at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Leptophytum bornetii at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

WoRMS: Leptophytum bornetii at World Register of Marine Species.

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 Morton, O., Keatley, L., Morrow, C.C. & Picton, B.E. (2026). Leptophytum bornetii. (Foslie) Adey. [In] Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland.
https://habitas.org/mbdp/species.php?item=ZM4380. Accessed on 2026-11-01