(Johnston, 1832)
Description
One of the largest of the North Sea anemones, up to 250 mm across the base.
Base lightly adherent.
Column cylindrical, variable in height, sometimes taller than wide but often kept short and hidden by the tentacles; smooth and soft in texture, never with verrucae or acrorhagi, occasionally with a slight rim at the top, suggestive of a parapet, in some states of contraction.
Disc wide.
Tentacles: Tentacles stout, long and rather graceful in full extension, not readily retracted; they are hexamerously arranged, up to about 200. In most states of contraction the tentacles are longitudinally fluted and at the base of each is a slight circular constriction indicating the position of the basal sphincter muscle. The reason for the tentacles being deciduous is unknown, nevertheless they are readily shed on occasion and isolated tentacles remain alive for many days, although they cannot regenerate into new anemones as occurs in some species with deciduous tentacles.
Colouration: Fairly uniform - orange, buff, pink or whitish, the disc and tentacles being slightly translucent. Disc sometimes with vague indications of a dark pattern around the tentacle bases.
Habitat
An offshore species occurring on rocks, stones and shells, from about 20 m depth down to at least 2000 m.
Distribution
Occurs around all coasts of the British Isles but is rare in the south. Generally distributed throughout the North Atlantic to the Arctic circle and eastern North America.