Part A | 6.3
96 Part A Marine Flora and Fauna
but spreading vegetatively by developing attachment
disks from branches in contact with solid substratum [6.467].
Habitat. Epiphytic, found only growing epiphytically
on the brown algae Cladostephus and Cystoseira lower
littoral, often abundant.
Distribution. The range of J. rubens stretches from
the Baltic Sea and Norway in the north to Portugal,
Senegal, East Africa, and the Azores in the south; it
is also found in the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands,
Indian Ocean, Black Sea, and China Sea, as well as
around Brazil.
Uses and Compounds. J. rubens has recently starting
to be used by cosmetic companies as an extract in natural beauty products. It is prized for its ultra-moisturizing
and protective properties due to the high concentration
of minerals and trace elements present in its tissue.
One provider notes that J. rubens is characterized by
a concentration of minerals and trace elements 20 000
to 40 000 times greater than that of seawater, thus giving it re-mineralizing properties. It is also used in skin
whitening and hydrating products [6.468].
Extracts of this species have antitumor [6.126],
bio-insecticide [6.463], antimicrobial [6.469, 470],
antihelmintic and cytotoxic [6.354, 471], antifouling [6.472], and antifungal [6.62] activity.
Jania rubens var. corniculata
(Linnaeus) Yendo
Description. Thallus erect, bushy, attached by a basal
crustose disk. Size: 14 cm high; dichotomous branching, abundant, and entangled branches. Intergenicula: cylindrical, slightly compressed, bearing basal,
sometimes articulated projections (horn-like); becoming wider at distal apex, 0:400:75 mm long (times)
0:10 mm in diameter. Genicula: irregular filaments
90160 m. Color of living specimen: from violet pink
more or less intense. Color of dried specimen: white to
yellow ivory [6.473].
Habitat. Epilithic or epiphytic on other algae (particularly Cladostephus species), in well-lit sites. Bathymetric
Distribution. From surface to shallow waters (3 m).
Distribution. NE Atlantic (from Ireland and Britain to
Morocco); Mediterranean.
Uses and Compounds. Extracts have antioxidant and
antimicrobial activity [6.474].
Lithophyllum byssoides (Lamarck) Foslie
Synonym. Lithophyllum lichenoides Philippi
Description. L. byssoides commonly grows in the intertidal zone. Living specimens, gray–violet in color,
form characteristic cushion-like clumps, composed of
densely interweaving and anastomosing lamellae which
are more or less smooth on the dorsal surface and
ridged on the ventral one. Growth form with spiniform
lamellae has also been observed. Thalli grow by forming concretions of approximately 10 to 20 cushion-like
dumps [6.475].
Habitat. It grows on rocky substrata at mid-littoral.
Distribution. NE Atlantic (Spain, Portugal to Senegal); Mediterranean (Italy).
Uses and Compounds. Extracts have antifungal activity [6.62].
Lithothamnion corallioides
(P.L. Crouan & H.M. Crouan)
P.L. Crouan & H.M. Crouan
Common Name. Maerl.
Description. An unattached, fragile, alga with a calcareous skeleton. It is very similar to and often confused
with Phymatolithon calcareum. Its form is very variable but it commonly occurs as highly branched nodules forming a 3D lattice. Individual plants may reach
45 cm across and are bright pink in color when alive
but white when dead [6.476].
Habitat. Typically found at less than 20 m depth on
sand, mud or gravel substrata in areas that are protected
from strong wave action but have moderate to high water flow. Usually found as unattached plants.
Distribution. NE Atlantic (Norway to Mauritania);
Mediterranean.
Uses and Compounds. Used as fertilizer and as
a constituent of pharmaceutical preparations [6.477,
478]. Extracts have antifungal activity [6.62].
Lithothamnion glaciale Kjellman
Common name. Knobby coralline-crust algae.
96 Part A Marine Flora and Fauna
but spreading vegetatively by developing attachment
disks from branches in contact with solid substratum [6.467].
Habitat. Epiphytic, found only growing epiphytically
on the brown algae Cladostephus and Cystoseira lower
littoral, often abundant.
Distribution. The range of J. rubens stretches from
the Baltic Sea and Norway in the north to Portugal,
Senegal, East Africa, and the Azores in the south; it
is also found in the Mediterranean, the Canary Islands,
Indian Ocean, Black Sea, and China Sea, as well as
around Brazil.
Uses and Compounds. J. rubens has recently starting
to be used by cosmetic companies as an extract in natural beauty products. It is prized for its ultra-moisturizing
and protective properties due to the high concentration
of minerals and trace elements present in its tissue.
One provider notes that J. rubens is characterized by
a concentration of minerals and trace elements 20 000
to 40 000 times greater than that of seawater, thus giving it re-mineralizing properties. It is also used in skin
whitening and hydrating products [6.468].
Extracts of this species have antitumor [6.126],
bio-insecticide [6.463], antimicrobial [6.469, 470],
antihelmintic and cytotoxic [6.354, 471], antifouling [6.472], and antifungal [6.62] activity.
Jania rubens var. corniculata
(Linnaeus) Yendo
Description. Thallus erect, bushy, attached by a basal
crustose disk. Size: 14 cm high; dichotomous branching, abundant, and entangled branches. Intergenicula: cylindrical, slightly compressed, bearing basal,
sometimes articulated projections (horn-like); becoming wider at distal apex, 0:400:75 mm long (times)
0:10 mm in diameter. Genicula: irregular filaments
90160 m. Color of living specimen: from violet pink
more or less intense. Color of dried specimen: white to
yellow ivory [6.473].
Habitat. Epilithic or epiphytic on other algae (particularly Cladostephus species), in well-lit sites. Bathymetric
Distribution. From surface to shallow waters (3 m).
Distribution. NE Atlantic (from Ireland and Britain to
Morocco); Mediterranean.
Uses and Compounds. Extracts have antioxidant and
antimicrobial activity [6.474].
Lithophyllum byssoides (Lamarck) Foslie
Synonym. Lithophyllum lichenoides Philippi
Description. L. byssoides commonly grows in the intertidal zone. Living specimens, gray–violet in color,
form characteristic cushion-like clumps, composed of
densely interweaving and anastomosing lamellae which
are more or less smooth on the dorsal surface and
ridged on the ventral one. Growth form with spiniform
lamellae has also been observed. Thalli grow by forming concretions of approximately 10 to 20 cushion-like
dumps [6.475].
Habitat. It grows on rocky substrata at mid-littoral.
Distribution. NE Atlantic (Spain, Portugal to Senegal); Mediterranean (Italy).
Uses and Compounds. Extracts have antifungal activity [6.62].
Lithothamnion corallioides
(P.L. Crouan & H.M. Crouan)
P.L. Crouan & H.M. Crouan
Common Name. Maerl.
Description. An unattached, fragile, alga with a calcareous skeleton. It is very similar to and often confused
with Phymatolithon calcareum. Its form is very variable but it commonly occurs as highly branched nodules forming a 3D lattice. Individual plants may reach
45 cm across and are bright pink in color when alive
but white when dead [6.476].
Habitat. Typically found at less than 20 m depth on
sand, mud or gravel substrata in areas that are protected
from strong wave action but have moderate to high water flow. Usually found as unattached plants.
Distribution. NE Atlantic (Norway to Mauritania);
Mediterranean.
Uses and Compounds. Used as fertilizer and as
a constituent of pharmaceutical preparations [6.477,
478]. Extracts have antifungal activity [6.62].
Lithothamnion glaciale Kjellman
Common name. Knobby coralline-crust algae.