Gracilaria corticata (J.Agardh) J.Agardh 1852

    Thalli dark red to purple colour, flattened fronds, 10-18 cm in height, rigid and cartilaginous. Thalli repeatedly dichotomously branched segments, usually 1-2(3) mm wide. Apices of branches acute; margin of the thallus smooth or sometimes with proliferations. Cortex 1-2 layered, outer layer of narrowly elongated cells, 6-9 μm long and 3-6 μm broad and the inner of radially compressed, slightly larger cells. Medullary regions with large thick walled cells measure 118-160 μm broad and 180-220 μm long. Cystocarps hemispherical occurs on the surface of thalli, 0.8-1.4 mm wide. Gonimoblast filaments densely aggregated branched upto 2 or 3 orders