Thalli erect, attached by matted, branched rhizoids, up to 30 cm long, complanate, flabellate or lacerate with many elongate, cuneate branches, 0.5-6 cm broad, often tapering to the apex. Growth initiated from a marginal row of apical cells. Thallus 2 cells thick near apex increasing to 5-7 cells thick towards the thallus base, not arranged in rows in transverse section. Hairs in concentric lines across the thallus. Sporangia solitary, in irregularly scattered groups or in short concentric zones adjacent to the hair lines, partially embedded in or completely external to the frond, without a stalk cell or with 1-3 stalk cells, 80-140 mm high when mature, producing 4 spores. Gametophytes dioecious. Antheridial sori whitish, irregularly shaped, scattered over both thallus surfaces, 100-800 mm across, bounded by 1-2 layers of sterile cells. Antheridia with 15-20 tiers of locules, with one stalk cell. Oogonial plants unknown.

Original publication: Agardh, J.G. (1848). Species genera et ordines algarum, seu descriptiones succinctae specierum, generum et ordinum, quibus algarum regnum constituitur. Volumen Primum. Algas fucoideas complectens. pp. [i-vi], [i]-viii, [1]-363. Lundae [Lund]: C.W.K. Gleerup.

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Adjective (Latin), sprinkled with minute dots

The life cycle is known to consist of an  oogamous sexual generation alternating with a morphologically similar asexual generation.  The spores from the asexual sporophytes are non-flagellated and non-motile. They are also peculiar amongst the Phaeophyta in being produced mainly in fours. They are therefore referred to as tetraspores, like those in the Rhodophyta.

Food supplements and cosmetics (with antioxidant properties).

Braune, W. (2008). Meeresalgen. Ein Farbbildführer zu den verbreiteten benthischen Grün- Braun- und Rotalgen der Weltmeere. pp. [1]-596, 266 pls. Ruggell: A.R.G. Gantner Verlag.

Serio, D., Alongi, G., Catra, M., Cormaci, M. & Furnari, G. (2006). Changes in the benthic algal flora of Linosa Island (Straits of Sicily, Mediterranean Sea). Botanica Marina 49: 135-144

Dutch - Nederlands: bruin waaierwier

Type species: This is the type species (holotype) of the genus Taonia