Calcareous Algae

Critter Spotlight: Halimeda macroloba

Photo Credit: Vincent Hargreaves

Upright growing forms of calcareous algae contain a large amount of calcium that lend a certain amount of stiffness. Growth rate depends upon the availability of calcium, magnesium and trace amounts of iron and iodine as iodide. Under the right circumstances, some forms of calcareous algae can grow as much as a few inches per day. There are numerous species, but the following green species are more common and generally available.

Codium

• Codium adhaerens
• Codium arabicum
• Codium decorticatum (Dead Man's Fingers)
• Codium edule (Antler Seaweed)
• Codium fragile (Dead Man's Fingers/Green Sponge/Fingers)
• Codium intertextum
• Codium vermilara

Halimeda

• Halimeda copiosa (Vine Halimeda)
• Halimeda discoidea (Money Plant)
• Halimeda incrassata (Money Plant)
• Halimeda macroloba (Coin Seaweed/Brittle-Disc Seaweed)
• Halimeda micronesica
• Halimeda opuntia (Money Plant)
• Halimeda tuna (Cactus Algae)

Neomeris

• Neomeris annulata (Fuzzy Tip, Spindleweed)

Parvocaulis

• Parvocaulis parvulus (Umbrella/Parasol Alga)

Penicillus

• Penicillus capitatus (Neptune's Shaving Brush)
• Penicillus dumetosus (Neptune's Shaving Brush)

Rhipocephalus

• Rhipocephalus phoenix (Pinecone Algae)

Udotea

• Udotea flabellum (Mermaid's Fan)
• Udotea petiolata
• Udotea spinulosa