Bryopsis plumosa is a large, feathery species of green seaweed. The thalli are erect, feather-like and may reach up to 15 cm in height. It is easily recognised by its delicate branches. All branches are regularly arranged in two rows on opposite sides of the central filament. The lengths of the branches decrease gradually from the base of the plant. It is usually dark to mid-green in colour.
Thallus small and erect to 10 cm long. Branches arranged distichously on the main axes. Feather-like. Bryopsis hypnoides has irregular branching.
Hen pen is an exceptionally pretty, feathery-shaped branched green seaweed. It is mostly bright green in color and remarkably flexible. The 'leaf' (thallus) consists of a single cell containing lots of cell nuclei without partitions. This seaweed is fairly common in the delta region, but is rare in the wadden region, only found at the foot of dikes or on pontoons. Hen pen is grazed upon by many marine organisms.
Widespread in the British Isles. Europe: Mediterranean and the Black Sea, Azores, Portugal, Spain, France, Norway, Faroes and Iceland. Atlantic coast of North America: Canada, Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut and Long Island, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. Further afield: west coast of Greenland, Jamaica, Canary Islands, Senegal, Ghana, Mauritania, South Africa, British Columbia to California, Australia and Japan.
Bryopsis plumosa is an epilithic species that is usually found in deep lower shore pools or subtidally in both sheltered and well-exposed habitats.
Not uncommon. In low littoral rock pools and in the sublittoral.
Depth range based on 64 specimens in 1 taxon.
Water temperature and chemistry ranges based on 8 samples.
Environmental ranges
Depth range (m): 0 - 26
Temperature range (°C): 11.244 - 12.146
Nitrate (umol/L): 4.909 - 6.151
Salinity (PPS): 35.184 - 35.339
Oxygen (ml/l): 6.128 - 6.204
Phosphate (umol/l): 0.336 - 0.452
Silicate (umol/l): 2.311 - 3.285
Graphical representation
Depth range (m): 0 - 26
Temperature range (°C): 11.244 - 12.146
Nitrate (umol/L): 4.909 - 6.151
Salinity (PPS): 35.184 - 35.339
Oxygen (ml/l): 6.128 - 6.204
Phosphate (umol/l): 0.336 - 0.452
Silicate (umol/l): 2.311 - 3.285
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