Iridaea phyllocarpa, Chondrus phyllocarpus, Rhodoglossum phyllocarpum, Gigartina phyllocarpa, Iridaea lilacina, Mazzaella lilacina; misidentified as Iridaea heterocarpa

Description: Thallus is usually burgundy red, somewhat rubbery, not iridescent, to 15 cm (6 in) tall and nearly as wide. Blades are deeply cleft into irregular, often pointed lobes. Reproductive blades have large cystocarps (4 mm diam.) bulging from the blade surface. Habitat: This species grows on rock in the mid to low intertidal, often in tidepools, of semi-protected to semi-exposed habitats. Similar taxa: Mazzaella oregona, M. parvula.