Description: Thallus cylindrical, erect and branched with cortical bands around the nodes and internodes of naked axial cells. Strongly inrolled apices. Spines on the nodes are three celled and clearly distinct from the cortical bands around the nodes.

Habitat: Epilithic or epiphytic in the mid littoral to 10 m sublittoral.

Distribution: Widely distributed around the British Isles, though somewhat south-westerly. Recorded from Scotland including the Orkneys. Europe: Azores, Mediterranean, Portugal, Atlantic coasts of Spain and France. Further afield: Canary Islands and Cape Verde Islands.

Similar Species: Other species of Ceramium with spines:- C.gadiatum; C.echionotum and C.schuttleworthianum

Key Identification Features:

• Three celled spines clearly distinct from the cortical bands.

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

iNaturalist: Ceramium ciliatum at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

WoRMS: Ceramium ciliatum at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Ceramium ciliatum (J.Ellis) Ducluzeau, 1806. AphiaID: 144537.

Classification: Biota; Plantae; Biliphyta; Rhodophyta; Eurhodophytina; Florideophyceae; Rhodymeniophycidae; Ceramiales; Ceramiaceae; Ceramioideae; Ceramieae; Ceramium