CHLOROPHYTA : Ulvales : UlvaceaeGREEN ALGAE

Enteromorpha flexuosa (Wulfen) J Agardh


Description: Large thallus, tubular bounded by a membrane one cell thick but compressed, slender and branched up to 60 cms long. Cells in the middle in both longitudinal and transverse rows.

Habitat: Epiphytic and epilithic in the littoral and sublittoral.

Distribution: Common around the British Isles. Europe: Mediterranean, Portugal, Spain, France, Netherlands, Baltic Sea, Norway. Atlantic coast of North America: Canada, Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut and Virginia. Further afield: Canary Islands, Caribbean; Pacific coast of North America, Ghana and Nigeria. Generally widespread.

Similar Species: Other species of Enteromorpha, microscopic examination may be required for identification.

Key Identification Features:

  • Cells in both longitudinal and transverse rows.

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

iNaturalist: Enteromorpha flexuosa at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

WoRMS: Enteromorpha flexuosa at World Register of Marine Species.

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 Morton, O., Keatley, L., Morrow, C.C. & Picton, B.E. (2026). Enteromorpha flexuosa. (Wulfen) J Agardh. [In] Encyclopedia of Marine Life of Britain and Ireland.
https://habitas.org/mbdp/species.php?item=ZS2170. Accessed on 2026-11-01