Description: Thallus erect axes polysiphonous to 10 cms long, terete with numerous pseudodichotmous branches. Pericentral cells 7 - 8 and ecorticate. Rhizoids are cut off from pericentral cell.

Habitat: Rare. Loose or attached to pebbles, maerl or other algae. Sublitoral sheltered shored to a depth of 10 m.

Distribution: Widespread but with few records from British Isles: south coast of England, Wales, Isle of Man, west Scotland, Ireland and the Channel Islands. Europe: Mediterranean, Portugal and the Atlantic coast of Spain. Further afield: the Canary Islands.

Key Identification Features:

• 7 - 8 pericentrals, ecorticate.

Distribution Map from NBN: Polysiphonia furcellata at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Polysiphonia furcellata at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

GBIF data for Vertebrata furcellata

WoRMS: Polysiphonia furcellata at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Vertebrata furcellata (C.Agardh) Kuntze, 1891. AphiaID: 637756.

Classification: Biota; Plantae; Biliphyta; Rhodophyta; Eurhodophytina; Florideophyceae; Rhodymeniophycidae; Ceramiales; Rhodomelaceae; Polysiphonieae; Polysiphonia