CHROMOPHYTA : Ectocarpales : ChordariaceaeBROWN ALGAE

Chilionema foecundum (Strömfelt) Fletcher


Description: Minute, as small spots on other algae 1 - 5 mm in diameter. Consisting of a monostromatic base with a densely packed erect filaments several cells long.

Habitat: Very rare. Epiphytic on Palmaria palmata and Laminaria and other algae in the low littoral and upper sublittoral.

Distribution: Records from scattered sites around the British Isles. Europe: Spain, France, Baltic Sea, Norway, Faeroes, Sweden, Iceland. Greenland. Atlantic coast of North America: Canada, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut.

Similar Species: There are other small algae appearing as spots or stain-like patches. All difficult to identify and require microscopic examination.

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

iNaturalist: Chilionema foecundum at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

WoRMS: Chilionema foecundum at World Register of Marine Species.

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 Morton, O., Keatley, L., Morrow, C.C. & Picton, B.E. (2026). Chilionema foecundum. (Strömfelt) Fletcher. [In] Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland.
https://habitas.org/mbdp/species.php?item=ZR1930. Accessed on 2026-11-01