A fairly rare seaweed growing in a run-off stream (Picture 2) from sandy pools. Clear water, flowing nearly all day (when the tide is out) and hardly reducing in salinity. It may yield a few unusual Marine Organisms.
There appears to be an issue with the name, which I cannot fathom but I suspect Eudesme virescens (Carmichael ex Berkeley) J.Agardh) is an old name and Mesogloia vermiculata (Smith) S.F.Gray, 1821 is properly accepted (or vice versa!). They BOTH are acceptable in WoRMS**
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This is incredibly slimy to the touch - actually quite hard to pluck and hold. The sliminess is is caused by very fine 'hairs', not discernable by naked eye but easily through a good glass. It shows remarkable structure that is very hard to photograph - it seems to fool focussing. In the end I had to resort to microscopy and high-contrast monotones.
"Littoral pools; epilithic"
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The Wiki Illustration is from https://archive.org/stream/albumgnralde00coup/#page/n4/mode/1up Copyright FREE
And doubts?
Excellent (and confirming) collection here http://www.aphotomarine.com/brown_seaweed_mesogloia_vermiculata.html
http://www.seaweed.ie/descriptions/Mesogloia_vermiculata.php
and http://nature22.com/estran22/vegetaux/brunes/phaeophyceae (as Eudesme - scroll down)
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** (WoRMS links) http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=144918 and http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=144924
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One of a series of detailed Observations with the same Six Figure Grid reference but correct to 1m or less (10cms x 10cms)
OS Grid References See https://finds.org.uk/getinvolved/guides/ngr
Project seen here http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5569328
Part of my https://www.ispotnature.org/communities/uk-and-ireland/view/project/746155/100-x-100-x-100-orkney
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PLEASE EXCUSE the occasional but continual editing, as I gradually add pictures and text to each post in the quest for excellence