Description

 Aglaothamnion diaphanum is a pale pink coloured red seaweed, 2-10 mm high, with a delicate texture. The fronds are branched in one plane, with a single principal axis and linear to fan-shaped (flabellate) outline. This species shows little variation except in the degree of development of branching. In some thalli, occasional branching become equal in length to the main axis, producing a fan-shape (flabellate) rather than linear frond outline.Could be confused with very small non-reproductive thalli of some growth forms of Compsothamnion gracillimum but Compsothamnion species are multinucleate in contrast to Aglaothamnion, which is uninucleate. Thalli reproductive from a small size and are usually easily recognisable by the reproductive spores (bisporangia). Identification of single specimens can be difficult, so if possible a number of thalli should be collected.