Synonyms: Melobesia thuretii Bornet in Thuret & Bornet (1878) p. 96; Melobesia deformans Solms-Laubach (1881) p. 57; Endosiphonia thuretii Ardissone (1883) p. 451; Chaetolihton deformans (Solms-Laubach) Foslie (1898b) p. 7.

CARATTERI VEGETATIVI

Thallus habit: visible as a calcareous conceptacle on the surface of host thalli (Corallina, Jania, Haliptilon) (A-D). Endophytic filaments: simple or ramified, not calcified, cells: 8-39µm long x 6-20µm in diameter, small lateral cells present (similar to cortical cells of Hydrolithon genus). Cell connections: absent. 

CARATTERI RIPRODUTTIVI

Conceptacles: globoid, pear-like (C). Gametangial conceptacles: carpogonial conceptacles diameter=height=100µm (conical). Tetra/bisporangial conceptacles: uniporate; 90µm in diameter x 50-70µm high. Tetrasporangial conceptacles bear apical plugs and are often grouped. Phenology: from February to May-June.

Habitat: same as host species (Corallina officinalis, Haliptilon attenuatum, H. virgatum, Jania rubens, J. rubens var. corniculata, J. longifurca). Bathymetric distribution: mainly sublittoral. Geographic distribution (Babbini & Bressan 1997):

Alboran Sea (A): Morocco; Western Mediterranean Sea (African shores) (B): Algeria; Middle Western Mediterranean Sea (C): Spain, Italy; North Western Mediterranean Sea (D): Spain, France, Italy; North Adriatic Sea (E): Italy, Slovenia, Croatia; Middle Adriatic Sea (F): Italy, Croatia; South Adriatic Sea (G): Albania; South Eastern Mediterranean Sea (H): Italy, Malta; Middle Eastern Mediterranean Sea (L): Italy, Greece, Turkey.