Dione arcuata

Dione arcuata

Nationally Critical (NZ TCS)
Scientific classification
Clade: Archaeplastida
Division: Rhodophyta
Class: Bangiophyceae
Order: Bangiales
Family: Bangiaceae
Genus: Dione
W.A.Nelson
Species:
D. arcuata
Binomial name
Dione arcuata
W.A.Nelson

Dione arcuata, commonly known as eyelash seaweed, is the only species of the red algae genus Dione. The specific name arcuata comes from Latin and refers to the bow-like curved shape of the algae, while the generic name Dione is another name for the goddess Venus. It is made of filaments that are around 1.5 centimeters long; they are curved, wide, and do not split into branches.