Description: An erect blade rising from a branched holdfast with a short stipe. The cartilaginous blade, which may be irregularily devided, grows to 30 cms long and up to 7cms broad. The margins are fringed with simple outgrowths 5 mm long. The plant shows considerable variation.

Habitat: Usually epilithic in rock pools in the upper sublittoral to depths of 25 m.

Distribution: Widely distributed around thewestern coasts of the British Isles including northern Scotland, Ireland, Wales, the south coast of England also the Isle of Man. Europe: Mediterranean, Portugal, Spain and France. Further afield: Mauretania.

Similar Species: Calliblepharis jubata, however the proliferations of the blade of C.ciliata are rarely more than 5 mm long, those of C.jubata can grow to 30 mm.

Key Identification Features:

• Cartilaginous blade with marginal proliferations clearly distinguishable.

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

iNaturalist: Calliblepharis ciliata at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

WoRMS: Calliblepharis ciliata at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Calliblepharis ciliata (Hudson) Kützing, 1843. AphiaID: 145613.

Classification: Biota; Plantae; Biliphyta; Rhodophyta; Eurhodophytina; Florideophyceae; Rhodymeniophycidae; Gigartinales; Cystocloniaceae; Calliblepharis