Laurencia

For the ballet, see Laurencia (ballet).

Laurencia
Laurencia microcladia
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
(unranked):	Archaeplastida
Division:	Rhodophyta
Class:	Rhodophyceae
Order:	Ceramiales
Family:	Rhodomelaceae
Genus:	Laurencia J. V. Lamouroux

Laurencia is a genus of red algae that mostly occurs in the sea near islands.

Ecology and habitats

Genus Laurencia is found globally on shores in temperate to tropical area, "littoral to sublittoral," and are seen at depths up to 65 m deep. A variety of species are found near the British Isles (see below).

Examples

The Agaebase, a database with detailed information on species of Laurencia, includes 145 taxonomically accepted species as of October 2015, and differentiates these from a further ~375 entries of uncertain taxonomic status, and further delineates homotypic or heterotypic synonyms.

Some of the most common types of Laurencia include the shallow subtidal Laurencia nidifica, Laurencia brongniartii on the Protea banks, Laurencia complanata near Hluleka, Laurencia flexuosa in False Bay, Laurencia glomerata in Port Nolloth and Melkbosstrand, Laurencia natalensis from Pearly Beach to Agulhas, Laurencia obtusa in Cape Hangklip, Laurencia peninsularis, which is endemic from False Bay to East London, and Laurencia pumila, which ranges from Tsitsikamma to Mozambique. Species seen in the British Isles include Laurencia hybrida (de Candolle) Lenormand ex Duby, Laurencia obtuse (Hudson) Laurencia osmunda (S.G. Gmelin). Laurencia pinnatifida (Hudson) Lamouroux, Laurencia pyramidalis Bory ex Kützing, and Laurencia truncate Kützing.