Description: Thallus encrusting, flat and firmly attached, up to 5 cm in diameter. Large raised conceptacles with dark centre.

Habitat: Very common. Epiphytic often on Furcellaria and Laminaria but also other species. Mid-littoral and sub-littoral to over 40 m depth.

Distribution: Very common around the British Isles. Europe: Mediterranean, Portugal, Atlantic coasts of Spain and France, Baltic Sea and Norway. Atlantic coast of North America: Canada, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Virginia and Florida. Further afield: West Indies, Canary Islands, Senegal and Cape Verde Isles, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

Similar Species: Hildenbrandia is much finer, epilithic and does not have large raised conceptacles.

Key Identification Features:

• Large raised conceptacles, epiphytic.

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

iNaturalist: Melobesia membranacea at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

WoRMS: Melobesia membranacea at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Melobesia membranacea (Esper) J.V.Lamouroux, 1812. AphiaID: 145182.

Classification: Biota; Plantae; Biliphyta; Rhodophyta; Eurhodophytina; Florideophyceae; Corallinophycidae; Hapalidiales; Hapalidiaceae; Melobesioideae; Melobesia