''Mastocarpus papillatus'', sometimes called Turkish washcloth, black tar spot,
or grapestone
is a species of
red algae in the family
Phyllophoraceae
Phyllophoraceae is a family of red algae in the order Gigartinales.[Phyllophoraceae]
at . It is sometimes confused with the distantly related ''Turkish towel'' (''Chondracanthus exasperatus
''Chondracanthus exasperatus'', commonly called Turkish towel, is a species of seaweed in the family Gigartinaceae. The specific epithet ' ( lit. 'roughened') refers to the bumpy texture of the blades (leaf-like structures). This texture also l ...
'') which is of a similar texture but larger. The specific epithet
In taxonomy, binomial nomenclature ("two-term naming system"), also called nomenclature ("two-name naming system") or binary nomenclature, is a formal system of naming species of living things by giving each a name composed of two parts, bot ...
''papillatus'' ('with papillae
Papilla (Latin, 'nipple') or papillae may refer to:
In animals
* Papilla (fish anatomy), in the mouth of fish
* Basilar papilla, a sensory organ of lizards, amphibians and fish
* Dental papilla, in a developing tooth
* Dermal papillae, part of ...
')gametophyte
A gametophyte () is one of the two alternation of generations, alternating multicellular organism, multicellular phases in the life cycles of plants and algae. It is a haploid multicellular organism that develops from a haploid spore that has on ...
which can give the texture of a terrycloth
Terrycloth, terry cloth, terry cotton, terry toweling, terry, terry towel, or simply toweling is a fabric woven with many protruding loops of thread which can absorb large amounts of water. It can be manufactured by weaving or knitting. Terryclo ...