Description: Thallus small, as hemispherical cushions and no more than 5 cms across. Erect and short monostromatic filaments to 0.5 mm long.

Habitat: Rare. Epiphytic in the littoral.

Distribution: In the British Isles only known from the south coast of England. Europe: Mediterranean. Further afield: the Canary Islands and Indian Ocean..

Similar Species: There are other small algae appearing as spots or stain-like patches. All difficult to identify and require microscopic examination.

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

iNaturalist: Compsonema minutum at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

WoRMS: Compsonema minutum at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Compsonema minutum (C.Agardh) Kuckuck, 1953. AphiaID: 145859.

Classification: Biota; Chromista; Harosa; Heterokonta; Ochrophyta; Phaeophyceae; Fucophycidae; Ectocarpales; Chordariaceae; Compsonema