In north-eastern Europe, gametophyte plants occurring from June or July - August or September (sometimes overwintering), pale purplish-red, quickly degenerating when removed from the water and becoming distinctly orange; fronds bushy, with a cylindrical axis to1 mm wide and 200 mm long, arising from bare, creeping stolons; irregularly branched, with 4 rows of branchlets, simple, short, branchlets alternating with longer ones with 4 rows of simple filamentous ramuli. Lower branchlets unbranched, long, tapered, with harpoon-like barbs. Tetrapsorophyte (“Falkenbergia-phase”) occurring all year round, but most obvious in October-March, brownish-red, much branched, filamentous, in dense cotton-wool-like tufts to 15 mm in diameter.

Falkenbergia rufolanosa (Harvey) F.Schmitz corresponds to the tetrasporophyte phase of Asparagopsis armata Harvey. 

Key characteristics: The harpoon-like hooks and bushy habit are unmistakable; association with Ulva.

Original publication: Harvey, W.H. (1855). Some account of the marine botany of the colony of western Australia. Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy 22: 525-566.

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Provide pharmacological activity - antibiotic

Strong cytotoxicity against human cancer cell lines (Zubia et al. 2009).

Asparagopsis armata extract is a powerful antioxidant with antibacterial qualities and is a valued ingredient in many cosmetic products. Asparagopsis armata is also harvested or grown for the production of agar - a firm gel-like substance that is used as a thickener and stabilizer in many products as well as in laboratory work as a growth medium for bacterial cultures.

Link for Seaweed Industry Association

Falkenbergia refulanosa phase has activity antibacterial, antifungal and antimitotic (Ballesteros et al. 1992)

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.

Loiseaux-de Goër, S. & Noailles, M.-C. (2008). Algues de Roscoff. pp. [1]-215, col. figs. Roscoff: Editions de la Station Biologique de Roscoff.

Ní Chualáin, F., Maggs, C.A., Saunders, G.W. & Guiry, M.D. (2004). The invasive genus Asparagopsis (Bonnemaisoniaceae, Rhodophyta): molecular systematics, morphology, and ecophysiology of Falkenbergia isolates. Journal of Phycology 40: 1112-1126.

Silva, P.C., Basson, P.W. & Moe, R.L. (1996). Catalogue of the benthic marine algae of the Indian Ocean. University of California Publications in Botany 79: 1-1259.

Womersley, H.B.S. (1996). The marine benthic flora of southern Australia - Part IIIB - Gracilariales, Rhodymeniales, Corallinales and Bonnemaisoniales. Vol. 5 pp. 1-392, 160 figs. Canberra & Adelaide: Australian Biological Resources Study & the State Herbarium of South Australia.

Similar species: Bonnemaisonia hamifera occurs in similar habitats but has crozier-shaped attachment branchlets rather than recurved barbs.

Type locality: Garden Island, Western Australia (Womersley 1996: 329). Lectotype: Harvey; Herb. Harvey, TCD Trav. Set 193 (Womersley 1996: 329). Notes: Syntype localities: Garden Island and King George Sound, Western Australia; Tasmania (Silva et al. 1996: 182).