Category: Algae
Phylum: Heterokontophyta
Class: Phaeophyceae
Family: Hormosiraceae

Notes
Plant constricted at regular intervals into a series of hollow beads usually 10 mm in diametre. Beads contain sea water to prevent dessication at low tide. Found in low tide zone on rocky moderately exposed shores or on stones in sand/mud areas in calm inlets. In muddy calm environments, the beads may grow larger to 20 mm in diameter. It produces its own food through the process of photosynthesis. When mature females exude pale green eggs and males exude pale orange sperm. It is host to the brown alge Notheia amonala in exposed locations.


References
CommonSeaweeds: Adams