RHODOPHYTA : Plocamiales : PlocamiaceaeRED ALGAE

Plocamium lyngbyanum Kützing, 1843


Description: Thallus grows from a discoid holdfast to form a frond with distinctive pectinate branching. The frond, up to 15 cms long, is generally flattened and the profuse sympodial branching. The final branchlets are comb-like in groups of 2 - 6 in regular sequence, each group alternating with a similar group on the other side. Gametangial and tetrasporangial plants are similar.

Habitat: Common. Epilithic in the sublittoral to 30 m or more.

Distribution: All around the British Isles including the Shetlands.

Key Identification Features:

  • Plocamium species are easily recognised by the "comb-like" final branchlets.

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

iNaturalist: Plocamium lyngbyanum at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

WoRMS: Plocamium lyngbyanum at World Register of Marine Species.

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 Morton, O., Keatley, L., Morrow, C.C. & Picton, B.E. (2026). Plocamium lyngbyanum. Kützing, 1843. [In] Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland.
https://habitas.org/mbdp/species.php?item=ZM6312. Accessed on 2026-11-01