Ulvella lens

Thallus microscopic, forming bright green disc-like crusts to 5 mm diam., parenchymatous, at first monostromatic, later 2-3 cells thick in the middle portion and jne-layer thick in margins. Marginal cells from surface view radially elongated, rectangular, often cuneate and distally forked, 3-8x10-30 mm. Cells in the middle portion irregularly arranged, almost isodiametric from surface view, 5-10(-15) mm diam. Hairs absent; pyrenoid 1 (if present). Rhizoids absent, crusts tightly adhering to the substratum by whole lower surface. Growing on intertidal shells, epiphytically (mostly on Laurencia spp., Cladophora catenata, Valonia ventricosa).

Note: This species is widely cultivated for abalone feeding.

Temperate, subtropical and tropical waters of Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans.