Chaetomorpha melagonium

Chaetomorpha melagonium is a species of green algae of the family Cladophoraceae.
There is confusion as to whether there are two forms of this species - one attached and one unattached.

Description

The attached form is unbranched growing solitary or in a small group to 60 cm long. The filaments are attached at the base and are stiff and straight. In colour they are dark green with a glaucus sheen. Remarkably rigid and wiry. The cells are so large they can be seen with naked eye.

Habitat

Rock pools of the low littoral. Never abundant, but widespread.

Distribution

Widespread around the British Isles, along the Atlantic shores of Europe, Murman Sea, Greenland, Canadian Arctic.