Hypnea aspera

Thallus bushy, caespitose, forming intricate at the base cushions, 10-13(-20) cm high, branching irregularly dichotomous (4–5 times). Branches cylindrical, 1–2 mm diam., gradually tapering to apices, densely covered with numerous lateral branchlets 0.7–2(-3) mm long, 0.5 mm diam., simple or divided. In transverse section, cortex consist of 1-2 layers of small pigmented cells (5-7 mm diam.); medulla - of 1-2 layers of large, 60–100(–200) μm diam. thick-walled cells surrounding axial cell or a few central smaller cells. Lenticular thickenings present in cell walls of medullary cells. Tetrasporangia zonately divided, develop at basal or middle part of swollen branchlets. Cystocarps subspherical, 500–650 μm diam., solitary or in groups. Attachment by pad-like holdfast. Growing in middle intertidal and upper subtidal, on hard sunstratum.

Africa. Common in countries of the Asia-Pacific Region.