Description: This sponge consists of a basal reticulation of thin-walled tubes which creep and anastomose over the substrate, from which arise numerous very (up to 2cm) long, free-standing, closely-set, oscular tubes showing "little or no tendency to throw out lateral diverticula except near their base". "It occurs as a spreading form and as a straggly bushy form" (never as an arborescent form (?). "White, yellow or grey when alive." Very delicate and soft, but perhaps not as fragile as L. complicata which easily breaks when handled (?). Oscules are terminal on erect tubes. "The oscular rims are long" [longer than in L. complicata]. "Oscular tubes show no tendency to anastomose." (?)

Distribution: "Arctic; Atlantic coasts of Europe; Mediterranean; etc."

Distribution Map from NBN: Leucosolenia variabilis at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Leucosolenia variabilis at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.