CHROMOPHYTA : Sphacelariales : StypocaulaceaeBROWN ALGAE

Stypocaulon scoparia (Linnaeus) Kützing


Description: Densley tufted thallus growing to 15 cms high and attached by rhizoids. Becomes tomentose in summer.

Habitat: Quite common in the south-west but rarer further north. Lower littoral rock pools and in the upper sublittoral.

Distribution: Generally of south-western distribution in the British Isles, from the west of Scotland to the Channel Islands. Europe: Mediterranean, Azores, Portugal, Atlantic coasts of Spain and France, Baltic Sea and Norway. Atlantic coast of North America: Canada. Further afield: the Canary Islands.

Similar Species: Halopteris filicina (Grateloup) Kützing; Sphacelaria plumosa Lyngbye.

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

iNaturalist: Stypocaulon scoparia at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

WoRMS: Stypocaulon scoparia at World Register of Marine Species.

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 Morton, O., Keatley, L., Morrow, C.C. & Picton, B.E. (2026). Stypocaulon scoparia. (Linnaeus) Kützing. [In] Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland.
https://habitas.org/mbdp/species.php?item=ZR4330. Accessed on 2026-11-01