Lithophyllum incrustans, also known by its common names coraline crust and paint weed, is a small pinkish species of seaweed.
Description This is a small encrusting,Fritch, F.E. 1965. The Structure and Reproduction of the Algae Volume 2. Cambridge University Press p 508 calcareous alga, growing epiphytically as a flat lobed plant up to 10 cm in diameter and up to several mm forming thick adherent crusts. It can become knobbly with overlapping lobes and a smooth surface. In colour it is pinkish but may become bleached.Irvine, L.M. and Chamberlain, Y.M. 1994 Seaweeds of the British Isles Volume 1 Rhodophyta Part 2B Corallinales, Hildenbrandialespp75 - 81 The Natural History Museum
Reproduction Tetrasporangial and bisporangial conceptacles occur sunken pits.Hardy, F.G. and Guiry, M.D. 2003. A Check-list and Atlas of the Seaweeds of Britain and Ireland. The British Phycological Society 2003. Plants usually gametangial, Spermatangial conceptacles in shallow chambers. Carposporangial chambers flask-shaped.
Distribution Found all around the Great Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands, rarer on the east coast of England. In Europe recorded from Faroes, Norway to the Mediterranean.
Ecology Common in shallow pools and under cover. Grows abundantly in the mid-littoral to 8 metres depth.
References
Other External links Dickinson, C.I. 1963. British Seaweeds. Eyre & Spottisqoode