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.