This beautiful species of Penicillus is very similar in appearance to P. capitatus, but it’s more heavily calcified and features a short stem, with coarse bristle-like filaments. These particular plants grow much larger than other species of Penicillus, up to 8″ tall. A distinct characteristic of this calcareous algae is that the top is more tapered and flat like a shaving brush which is the common name for this algae. It’s abundant on the reef flat and among sea grass beds in sandy substrate. It’s root-like structure is a large bulb with a series of rhizoids that anchor it to substrate and sometimes hardbottom. It occurs in shallow calm protected water to depths of 40 ft. In the aquarium the mature plant often dies to produce new plants at it’s base. Like most calcareous stem plants, it needs a deep sand bed of 4″ or more to grow in the aquarium. Calcium supplementation is needed. Not palatable to fish or invertebrates.
Scientific Name: Penicillus dumetosus
Common Name: Mermaid’s Shaving Brush
Origin: Atlantic, Caribbean
Depth Collected: 1-30 Feet
Maximum Height : 8″
Growth Rate: Moderate
Light: Moderate to High
Temperature: 76-86
Propagation: Fragmentation, Sporulation
Difficulty: Easy
Food Value: Not Palatable
Nutrient Uptake: Fair
Flow Rate: Low to Moderate