Flustra foliacea (broad-leaved hornwrack)

Flustra foliacea (Linnaeus, 1758) is a cheilostome marine bryozoan that is commonly found along the strand line, or high-tide mark, around the British coast especially after storms.

It has a distinctive lemon-like smell when fresh.

Known as the broad-leaved hornwrack, this bryozoan forms bushy flexible colonies 6–20cm in height, that are light grey-brown in colour.

It is often mistaken for a seaweed.

Species detail

Taxonomy

Bryozoans consist of individuals called zooids that form a colony. Find out how you can identify Flustra foliacea colonies.
Distribution

This bryozoan is found in cold water areas on stony ground and forms a rich microhabitat for other animals. Find out more.
Biology

Flustra can grow for at least 12 years and forms annual growth lines, similar to rings in a tree.
References

Get reference material for Flustra foliacea.

Images

Base of Flustra where it adheres to substrate.

Flustra foliacea fronds.

Electra pilosa encrusting Flustra foliacea.

Flustra foliacea habitat.

Original description of Flustra foliacea from Linnaeus, 1758.

R Hooke's Micrographia.

R Hooke's microscope.

Structure of Flustra foliacea.

Print version

About the author

Miss Mary Spencer Jones

Senior Curator (Bryozoa) on the Invertebrates Curation Team. Research focuses on the history and biodiversity of marine bryozoans, and the preservation, maintenance and conservation of invertebrate collections.