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Osmundea pinnatifida (Hudson) Stackhouse, 1809
Osmundea pinnatifida is a small alga widespread in the intertidal zone on moderately sheltered rocky coasts in Britain and Europe. The red algae can have a wide range of colors, from yellow-brown to red that is so dark it almost looks black.
Osmundea pinnatifida grows in clumps with branches up to 8 cm long from a disc-shaped support that produces runners for further support. The branches are alternate, flattened and branch from the sides once or twice in one plane. The axles have a small end groove at the tip.
The red algae is harvested in Scotland and the Channel Islands and dried and used as a spice for spicing dishes, which is what the name pepper red algae refers to.
Synonymised names
Chondria pinnatifida (Hudson) C.Agardh, 1822 · unaccepted
Fucus pinnatifidus Hudson, 1762 · unaccepted (synonym)
Gelidium pinnatifidum (Hudson) Lyngbye, 1819 · unaccepted
Laurencia pinnatifida (Hudson) J.V.Lamouroux, 1813 · unaccepted
Pinnatifida vulgaris Stackhouse, 1816 · unaccepted
Sphaerococcus pinnatifidus (Hudson) Stackhouse, 1797 · unaccepted (synonym)
Osmundea pinnatifida is a small alga widespread in the intertidal zone on moderately sheltered rocky coasts in Britain and Europe. The red algae can have a wide range of colors, from yellow-brown to red that is so dark it almost looks black.
Osmundea pinnatifida grows in clumps with branches up to 8 cm long from a disc-shaped support that produces runners for further support. The branches are alternate, flattened and branch from the sides once or twice in one plane. The axles have a small end groove at the tip.
The red algae is harvested in Scotland and the Channel Islands and dried and used as a spice for spicing dishes, which is what the name pepper red algae refers to.
Synonymised names
Chondria pinnatifida (Hudson) C.Agardh, 1822 · unaccepted
Fucus pinnatifidus Hudson, 1762 · unaccepted (synonym)
Gelidium pinnatifidum (Hudson) Lyngbye, 1819 · unaccepted
Laurencia pinnatifida (Hudson) J.V.Lamouroux, 1813 · unaccepted
Pinnatifida vulgaris Stackhouse, 1816 · unaccepted
Sphaerococcus pinnatifidus (Hudson) Stackhouse, 1797 · unaccepted (synonym)