Plants are tufted, stems flattened, narrow, pinnately-branched (like a feather). Colour is dark crimson, bleaching to greenish brown, texture firm to wiry.

Low tide zone and upper subtidal. Usually in pools, channels and areas where water remains at low tide.

It produces its own food through the process of photosynthesis.

It has limited commercial use in the manufacture of agar.

http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=145599 (accessed 23/08/10) Seaweeds of NZ; Adams