Plants pinkish red, mostly 10 to 45 cm tall, with cylindrical branches. Branching is irregularly radial with 2 to 3 orders, most branches 1 to 4 mm diameter and of varying length. Terminal branches have narrowed bases and pointed tips. Several axes originating from a small discoid holdfast. Cystocarps, 1 to 2mm diameter, form bulges in the branches.

Common, found growing on rocks, usually near sand.

Low intertidal and subtidal to 30 m;Alaska to Baja California, Mexico.