VEGETATIVE FEATURES

Thallus habit: free-living, bushy with numerous radially arising branches, rarely encrusting. Branches widened and rounded or irregularly shaped, coalescent at the base in 4-5 groups growing from a central core (D). Margin with glossy surface. Size: 4-11cm in diameter, 0.5-4mm thick; branches: 6-7 (15)mm high, 4-7 (10)mm in diameter. Colour of living specimen: from pink to violet. Colour of dried specimen: from pale pink to pale grey.

Basal crust: multistratose. Medulla: not coaxial (7-8 cells layers); ovoid rectangular cells: 10-15 (28)µm long x 3-7µm in diameter. Cortex: multilayered (A); rectangular cells: (6) 7-8 (13)µm long x 6-9µm in diameter; concentric bands of cells with more or less thick walls observed in axial longitudinal section (A). Epithallial cells: 1-3 layers of flattened cells, the outermost formed by flared cells. Cell connections: cell fusions

Conceptacles: raised, convex (B), oval, grouped on branches apices. Gametangial conceptacles: unknown. Tetra/bisporangial conceptacles: multiporate (20-30 pores), convex, from rounded to elliptical (C), outer diameter 300-600µm, inner diameter 175-455µm x 80-210µm high. Phenology: the majority of thalli are sterile whereas fertile thalli may produce numerous asexual conceptacles, often grouped on one side of branches.

Habitat: epiphytic or epibionts species, occurring on sandy bottoms, with also fluctuating currents. It is often recorded in association with Lithophyllum racemes rarely with Neogoniolithon mamillosum and with Mesophyllum lichenoides. Bathymetric distribution: sublittoral. Specimens belonging to this species have been dredged up to 65m deep. Geographic distribution (Babbini & Bressan 1997):

Western Mediterranean Sea (African shores) (B): Tunisia; Middle Western Mediterranean Sea (C): Spain, France, Italy; North Western Mediterranean Sea (D): Spain, France, Italy; North Adriatic Sea (E): Italy; Middle Adriatic Sea (F): Italy, Croatia; South Eastern Mediterranean Sea (H): Italy.