Cartilaginous, cylindrical, dull purple-red fronds, to 500 mm long, one or several arising from small, fleshy, perennial discoid holdfast. Branching very irregular, sparse or profuse, branches to 2 mm diam., apices pointed. Internal tissue of large thin-walled more or less colourless cells with narrow outer cortical zone of small coloured cells.

(after Guiry M. Seaweed Site - http://www.seaweed.ie/descriptions/Gracilaria_gracilis.php)