General Description

Resembles tiny delicate bunches of red grapes. Rigid central stem with irregular branching. Oval to club-like hollow beads (vesiculate laterals) are closely bunched together and attached by short stem (stipe) to branch. Disc shaped holdfast. Dark red-brown. Up to 30 cm long (thallus).

Biology

This alga often grows with, or is overgrown by, encrusting coralline and other algae. It is a common genus in tropical/sub-tropical areas.

Habitat

Subtidal reefs with strong current flow, in calm to rough waters, to depth of 24 m.

Reefs

Distribution guide

Madagascar and Australia.

Species Group

Seaweeds and seagrasses › Red algae

Depth

Shallow (1-30 m)

Water Column

On or near sea floor

Max Size

30 cm

Diet

Photosynthetic - sunlight

Commercial Species

No

Global Dispersal

Recorded in Australia

Identify

• Seaweeds and seagrasses

Conservation Status

• DSE Advisory List : Not listed
• EPBC Act 1999 : Not listed
• IUCN Red List : Not listed