We have recently databased and imaged selected genera of British Algae held in the herbarium as part of a project run by the Natural History Museum, London. The aim of this project is to gather data of interest to biodiversity and conservation research including non-native seaweeds, species of conservation concern and species which may be potential indicators of environmental change.

You can read more about the project on its website

During this process we came across some interestingly mounted and beautiful specimens, a selection of these are shown below:

Drachiella spectabilis certainly deserves the epithet spectabilis! It has kept a wonderful hot pink colour since it was collected in 1978

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This button is the hold fast of Himanthalia elongata

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How do you mount a specimen of Chorda filum that is a couple of metres long?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Phymatolithon calcareum is a coralline red alga, stored in boxes, mounted on specimen sheets.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This specimen of Alaria esculenta is a larger seaweed, and has had to be curved to fit the space on the sheet.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This ‘furry worm’ is Chorda tomentosa

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This species, Padina pavonica is known as Peacocks tail, the resemblance can still be seen in the dried specimens

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sphaerococcus coronopifolius has a lovely branching form, as well keeping its red and pink colour since it was collected in 1829

 

 

 

 

Post written by Becky Camfield