Halimeda simulans

Thallus erect, forming dense tufts, 4.5-6(-11) cm high, bright green. Branching di-, trichotomous in one plane. Segments moderately calcified, cuneate, subcuneate, discoid, flabellate, ribbed, 0.5-1.6 cm wide, 0.5-1.4 cm long, 0.6-0.8(-1.5) mm thick. Upper margins thickened, undulate or lobed.. The uppermost utricles in surface view roundish polygonal, 25-42×27-52 mm. In longitudinal section, utricles in 3-4 layers, surface utricles 25-45(-52) mm diam., 50-100 mm long; subsurface utricles 40-50(-60) mm diam., (35)-60-110 mm long, each bearing 2-4 surface utricles. Medullary filaments 60-95 mm diam. Basal segments subcylindrical (fused laterally) form a fanshaped segment bearing branches. Attachment by cylindrical holdfast (4-5.5 cm long, 1.3 cm diam.) consisting of rhizoids binding sand and finer sediments. Growing on sandy, sandymuddy bottom at 1-2 m depth to 30 m.

Note: The alga is used in folk medicine.

Subtropical and tropical waters of Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans.