A moss-like plant with an irregularly and highly branched frond. The frond is constricted at intervals into different sized segments and the holdfast is a mass of tangled fibres. The plant is small (growing up to 2 cm tall) and is dark purple.Can be confused with the lichen Lichina pygmaea but is found in damper and less exposed locations, tends to be lower on the shore, and is composed of small dark purple flattened fronds.

Atlantic, Azores Exclusive Economic Zone, Boulogne, Digue du Nord, Dutch Exclusive Economic Zone, European waters (ERMS scope), Gulf of Mexico, Indian Ocean, Irish Exclusive economic Zone, Kenya, Madagascar, Mediterranean Sea, Mozambique, Oosterschelde, Tanzania, United Kingdom, United Kingdom Exclusive Economic Zone, Wadden Sea, Westerschelde, Wimereux, Zeebrugge

Known from rocky shores.

Depth range based on 49 specimens in 1 taxon.
Water temperature and chemistry ranges based on 10 samples.

Environmental ranges
  Depth range (m): 0 - 5
  Temperature range (°C): 11.768 - 12.348
  Nitrate (umol/L): 4.729 - 7.121
  Salinity (PPS): 35.184 - 35.363
  Oxygen (ml/l): 6.069 - 6.151
  Phosphate (umol/l): 0.336 - 0.439
  Silicate (umol/l): 2.448 - 3.285

Graphical representation

Depth range (m): 0 - 5

Temperature range (°C): 11.768 - 12.348

Nitrate (umol/L): 4.729 - 7.121

Salinity (PPS): 35.184 - 35.363

Oxygen (ml/l): 6.069 - 6.151

Phosphate (umol/l): 0.336 - 0.439

Silicate (umol/l): 2.448 - 3.285
 
Note: this information has not been validated. Check this *note*. Your feedback is most welcome.

 It is commonly found on the middle to upper levels of rocky shores, but is restricted to sheltered and shaded conditions. It can also sometimes be found in estuaries. It often grows together Gelidium pusillum, with which it can be confused.

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLDS) Stats
Public Records: 0
Specimens with Barcodes: 6
Species With Barcodes: 1