The plants are globular, inflated up to 10 cm or more across, at fist smooth , later lobed, folded and torn. The walls are thick, more that 5 cell layers, the cavity is initially filled with sea water but becomes hollow and air filled. The holdfast: the plant is broadly attached at the base. The colour is golden to greenish brown, the texture is firm.

Plants are often epiphytic on intertidal algal turf on moderately exposed coasts.

Uses the sun's energy for photosynthesis.

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Seaweeds of NZ; Adams