Description: Frands to 30 cms long, branches flat and 1 - 2 cms wide with a narrow midrib. Branches thin and dichotomous, readily tearing at the margins.

Habitat: Rare. Sublittoral locally abundant.

Distribution: South-western distribution in the British Isles from south-west England, around Ireland except the east coast, south-west Scotland, Isle of Man and the Channel Islands. Europe: Mediterranean, Azores, Portugal, Atlantic coasts of Spain and France. Further afield: Jamacia, Canary Islands, Mauritania and wesrt coast Africa.

Similar Species: Species of Fucus may appear similar but Dictyopteris is not thick and leatherly.

Key Identification Features:

• Fucus-like with a mid-rib, thin and delicate.

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

iNaturalist: Dictyopteris polypodioides at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.

WoRMS: Dictyopteris polypodioides at World Register of Marine Species. Accepted name: Dictyopteris polypodioides (A.P.De Candolle) J.V.Lamouroux, 1809. AphiaID: 145360.

Classification: Biota; Chromista; Harosa; Heterokonta; Ochrophyta; Phaeophyceae; Dictyotophycidae; Dictyotales; Dictyotaceae; Zonarieae; Dictyopteris