Ceramium pacificum, Ceramium rubrum var. pacificum, Ceramium washingtoniense, Stirkia pacifica

Description: Thallus is red, delicate, to 15 cm (6 in) tall, dichotomously or irregularly branched, with paired branch tips forcipate (shaped like crab pincers) or spreading. Short proliferous branches are often present along the main axis.  Small cells cover the large central axial cell, causing alternate light and dark bands when the thallus is held up to the light. Habitat: This species grows on rock and epiphytically in the mid to low intertidal of protected to semi-exposed habitats. Similar taxa: Herpochondria borealis.