Gastroclonium ovatum

Gastroclonium reflexum is a small red marine seaweed.
Description.
"Gastroclonium ovatum" is a small alga which grows to 15 cm long. The branches are cylindrical, grow from a branched holdfast and branch irregularly. It shows short branches which are hollow with bladder-like or vesicle-like branches - rather elongate with a single joint. In colour it is dark purplish red.
Habitat.
Found in rock pools in the littoral or upper sublittoral, epilithic or epiphytic.
Distribution.
Recorded from the British Isles, Mauritania, Canary Islandsand the Channel Islands.
Reproduction.
The sexes are separate. The female cystocarps occur on the branches and the tetrasporangia in the cortex of the vesicles.
Similar species.
"Gastroclonium reflexum" distinguished by many branches being reflexed and "Chylocladia verticillata".