The plants are robust, up to 12 cm high, pinnately branched from the main stems. the Lateral and upper branches spread out fanwise and are flattened on one plane. The stems are flattened and shield shaped above the branches and cylindrical below. The holdfast is a flattened disc and the colour is rosy pink, the texture firm and flexible.

Plants are found on rock in the low intertidal to subtidal, often beneath or on the holdfasts of large brown algae on open coasts.

Uses the sun's energy for photosynthesis.

Seaweeds of NZ; Adams