Description: Gametangial plants are attached by discoid holdfast growing to 25 cms in height, well branched and mucilaginous at least when young. Tetrasporangial plants only known in culture.

Habitat: Epilithic on Polyides rotundus or on gravel, shells etc. Sublittoral to 30 m.

Distribution: Generally south-western in the British Isles, but recorded from Scotland including the Shetlands. Europe: Mediterranean, Atlantic coast of France and Denmark.

Similar Species: Nemalion helminthoides has relatively few branches and Helminthocladia calvadosii.

Key Identification Features:

• Branched and mucilaginous with distinctly limited inner axis.

Distribution Map from NBN: Helminthora divaricata at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Helminthora divaricata at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

WoRMS: Helminthora divaricata at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Helminthora divaricata (C.Agardh) J.Agardh, 1852. AphiaID: 145753.

Classification: Biota; Plantae; Biliphyta; Rhodophyta; Eurhodophytina; Florideophyceae; Nemaliophycidae; Nemaliales; Liagoraceae; Helminthora