Description:
Translucent, membranous, brownish-red fronds, dichotomously divided from base, in dense globose tufts to 100 mm long. Segments with rounded apices, veins absent, margins smooth or fringed with leafy processes.

Habitat:
On rocks, shells and epiphytic, subtidal (to 30 m), widely distributed, common.

Similar species:
Various delesseriaceous algae, including the much commoner Cryptopleura ramosa from which it may be distinguished with difficult by its thicker thallus; Rhodophylis irvineana which is similar in thickness but is more red in colour and much larger, and occurs more commonly in deeper water (20-30 m).