Bryopsis plumosa
{{Short description|Species of alga}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Bryopsis plumosa 53552509.jpg
| image_caption = Bryopsis plumosa
| genus = Bryopsis
| species = plumosa
| authority = (Hudson) C.Agardh, 1823{{Cite web|url=http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=144457|title=Bryopsis plumosa (Hudson) C.Agardh, 1823|website=www.marinespecies.org|access-date=2019-01-24}}
| synonyms_ref =
| synonyms = Bryopsis arbuscula
Conferva tenax (Roth, 1806)
Ulva plumosa (Hudson, 1778)
}}
Bryopsis plumosa, sometimes known by the common names green algae or hen pen, is a type of green seaweed.
Taxonomy
This species was originally described by William Hudson under the name Ulva plumosa.{{Cite book|url=https://biodiversitylibrary.org/page/52507981|title=Gulielmi Hudsoni, Regiae Societatis Socii et Pharmacopaei Londinensis, Flora anglica : exhibens plantas per regnum Britanniæ sponte crescentes, distributas secundum systema sexuale : cum differentiis specierum, synonymis auctorum, nominibus incolarum, solo locorum, tempore florendi, officinalibus pharmacopæorum.|last=Hudson|first=William|year=1798|location=London|pages=571|doi=10.5962/bhl.title.124875|author-link=William Hudson (botanist)}}
Distribution
Bryopsis plumosa is found in the British Isles, Europe, the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea, Azores, Portugal, Spain, France, Norway, Faroes and Iceland, on the Atlantic coast of North America, west coast of Greenland, Jamaica, Canary Islands, Senegal, Ghana, Mauritania, South Africa, British Columbia to California, Australia, Japan and New Zealand.{{Cite web|url=http://www.habitas.org.uk/marinelife/species.asp?item=ZS3920|title=Bryopsis plumosa - Marine Life Encyclopedia|website=www.habitas.org.uk|access-date=2019-01-24}}{{Cite book|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/841897290|title=New Zealand seaweeds : an illustrated guide|last=W. A.|first=Nelson|publisher=Te Papa Press|year=2013|isbn=9780987668813|location=Wellington, New Zealand|pages=20|oclc=841897290|author-link=Wendy Nelson (marine scientist)}}
Description
Bryopsis plumosa has distichous branches with a thallus that is small and erect, growing up to 10 cm long. It is coloured bright green and has a soft, silky texture. The branches arranged in two opposite rows.Burrows, E.M. 1991. Seaweeds of the British Isles Volume 2 Chlorophyta.{{ISBN|0-565-00981-8}}
Reproduction
The species is dioecious; when fertile the male plants turn yellowish-green and the female plants are dark green.Dickinson, C.I. 1963 British Seaweeds. The Kew Series
Ecology
It can be found in intertidal pools.
Similar species
Bryopsis hypnoides can be difficult to distinguish, the branches of B. hypnoides are arranged spirally or irregularly.Bunker, F.StP, Brodie, J.A., Maggs, C.A. and Bunker, A.R. 2017 Seaweeds of Britain and Ireland Second edition. Wild Nature Press, Plymouth, UK {{ISBN|978-0-9955673-3-7}}