Description: Thallus growing from a minute discoid holdfast to form an ovate monostromatic blade 100 cms long and 20 cms wide.

Habitat: Common. Epilithic on rock or pebbles buried in sand; epizoic and occasionally epiphytic. Mainly midlittoral.

Distribution: Widespread around the British Isles. Europe: Portugal, Spain, France, Netherlands, the Baltic, Norway, Faroes and Iceland. Atlantic coast of North America: Canada and Massachusetts.

Similar Species: Other species of Porphyra.

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

iNaturalist: Porphyra purpurea at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

WoRMS: Porphyra purpurea at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Porphyra purpurea (Roth) C.Agardh, 1824. AphiaID: 144434.

Classification: Biota; Plantae; Biliphyta; Rhodophyta; Eurhodophytina; Bangiophyceae; Bangiophycidae; Bangiales; Bangiaceae; Porphyra