Species:

Ceramium diaphanum(Lightfoot) Roth

Classification

The species Ceramium diaphanum belongs to:

Photos

Photos of Ceramium diaphanum (6):

  • Photo of Ceramium diaphanum
  • Photo of Ceramium diaphanum
  • Photo of Ceramium diaphanum
  • Photo of Ceramium diaphanum
  • Photo of Ceramium diaphanum
  • Photo of Ceramium diaphanum

1 of 6: Habit

Photo of Ceramium diaphanum
Small and delicate species, 1-5 cm tall, growing in the subtidal sone.  Photo: © Vivian HusaTerms of use

Note: This is a rather rare southern species at the Norwegian coast and is distributed north to the Trondheimsfjord. It can be confused with Ceramium tenuicorne, since both are thin and have conspicious ecorticate internodes of main axes, and tightly inrolled apices. It separates from this species by having wide angles between branches (> 60 degrees, while C. tenuicorne has 30-45 degrees), and swollen, protruding cortical bands, which are often wider in the upper than in the lower part. Contrary to C. tenuicorne it may also have gland cells. C. diaphanum usually developes only one tetrasporangia in each cortical band, while C. tenuicorne developes a ring of tetrasporangia in each band and additionally often carries parasporangia.

2 of 6: Branching with wide angels > 60°

Photo of Ceramium diaphanum
Photo: © Vivian HusaTerms of use

3 of 6: Apices

Photo of Ceramium diaphanum
Photo: © Vivian HusaTerms of use

4 of 6: Strongly inrolled apices

Photo of Ceramium diaphanum
Photo: © Vivian HusaTerms of use

5 of 6: Conspicious dentate outer faces of apical tips

Photo of Ceramium diaphanum
Photo: © Vivian HusaTerms of use

6 of 6: Protruding collar-like cortical bands in middle part of axes.

Photo of Ceramium diaphanum
Photo: © Vivian HusaTerms of use

Closest relatives

Other species in the same genus (Ceramium):