Description: A thin cushion, typically 5mm to 1cm thick, spreading in patches of diameter typically ca. 6cm. It may become massive-lobose in sheltered locations. Variable: "scarlet", orange to dirty violet-brown. Somewhat crumbly, compressible and fairly resilient. Oscules "small", scattered, "numerous" and obvious; they may be in groups. Excurrent channels are present.

Habitat: Common. Typically found in shallow water - the kelp zone, especially in highly exposed sites, and in 'rapids' situations on upper surfaces of rocks. It may also occur in semi-sheltered situations with moderate current. "Littoral to 680m."

Distribution: "Faroes; British Isles; Atlantic coasts of France and Spain; Portugal; etc." Recently known from Tiree, St Kilda, W. Scotland; Strangford Lough; Lough Hyne; Saltee Is., Co. Wexford; Co. Galway; N. and W. Cornwall; Anglesey; Sussex; Jersey.

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

iNaturalist: Stylostichon plumosum at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.