Portieria hornemannii (Lyngbye) P.C. Silva
Clawed sea moss
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Family:  Rhizophyllidaceae ()
Max. size: 
Environment:  sessile; marine
Distribution:  Indian Ocean: from the Arabian Sea, including Gulf of Aden, south to South Africa, including Seychelles, Comoros, Réunion and Madagascar, east to India including Laccadive Islands, and south to Western Australia including Nicobar Islands; Pacific Ocean: from China to the South China Sea south to New South Wales, Australia including Federated States of Micronesia, Lord Howe Islands and Fiji, east to the Hawaiian Islands.
Diagnosis:  Thalli small, bright orange to red and composed of erect, overlapping fronds that arise from a small discoid holdfast. Branching in 1 plane, irregularly pinnate-alternate, forming rounded axils. Diameter of the primary branches not exceeding 7 mm. Tips of the terminal branches at the distal portion of the thallus slightly expanded with enrolled tips. Basal lateral branchlets provided with simple acute teeth. Thalli about 5.5 cm in height (Re. 80758).
Biology:  Source of carrageenan (Ref. 80758) Attached to rocks or dead corals in upper to lower subtidal areas exposed to moderate to strong water movement (Ref. 80758).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. 123251)
Threat to humans: 
Country info:   
 

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