Category: Algae
Phylum: Rhodophyta
Class: Florideophyceae
Family: Gracilariaceae

Notes
Plants robust in dense tufts. Fronds regularly divided into narrow stems arranged fanwise. Lower stems cylindrical. Holdfast an expanded pad from which the stem arise. Colour brick red, drying to black. Texture is stiff and wiry. It is found on rock at and below low water spring tide on exposed coasts. It produces its own food through the process of photosynthesis.


References
Seaweeds of NZ; Adams