Viridiana

Another low tide fossick. It's always a pleasure to find the bright green version of the snakelocks  anemone  which is normally grey. When living in a sunny rock pool their cells can become colonised by a species of alga which uses the sunlight to photosynthesise, hence the colour. It's a symbiotic relationship in which the anemone provides the alga with  protection and basic nutrients like carbon dioxide. In return the algae gives up complex lipids (fats) and glycerol which are sufficient to fuel the anemone so that it does not have to feed. Everyone's a winner! 


On the down side these gaudy colours  make the snakelocks easily spotted by foragers. It's long been a favoured seafood in Southern Spain and Sardinia but now it's becoming popular further afield and in some places its numbers are falling as a result. I've never tried eating them and would prefer to leave them unharmed to find again (they can live for 80 years I'm told.) We  did take some seaweed home though. Extra shows son Huw collecting kelp that he plans to use for a Chinese seaweed salad.