Description: Thallus erect 15 (20) cms long, with a short stipe, laminae monostromatic without a midrib but with macroscopic and microscopic veins. Deeply devided into branches to 3.5 cms wide. Blade margins may show hooks on the margins of the blades.

Habitat: Abundant. Epiphytic, epilithic and on shells in rock pools of the low littoral and sublittoral to at least 30 m.

Distribution: Generally around the British Isles including the Shetlands and the Channel Islands. Europe: the Mediterranean Portugal, Spain, France, Norway and the Faroes. Further afield: Mediterranean, Canary Islands, Senegal, North Carolina and Brazil.

Similar Species: Acrosorium venulosum may show hooks which are marginal and terminal unlike C.ramosa which are marginal only.

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

iNaturalist: Cryptopleura ramosa at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

WoRMS: Cryptopleura ramosa at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Cryptopleura ramosa (Hudson) L.Newton, 1931. AphiaID: 144743.

Classification: Biota; Plantae; Biliphyta; Rhodophyta; Eurhodophytina; Florideophyceae; Rhodymeniophycidae; Ceramiales; Delesseriaceae; Phycodryoideae; Cryptopleureae; Cryptopleura