[1] The species is dioecious forming spermatangia and carpogonia on separate male and female plants.

The fertilised carpogonium develops growing parasitically attached to the female plant.

[1] England and Wales: Pembroke, Hampshire, Dorset, Devon and Cornwall, Sussex, Lincoln to Kent, Norfolk also the Channel Isles.

Ireland: Cork, Kerry, Clare, Mayo, Waterford, Dublin, Donegal,[5] Antrim and Down.

Widely in north-west Atlantic, Iceland, Norway to Spain, Denmark, Netherlands, France, Portugal, Mediterranean, Azores, Canary Islands, Cape Verde Islands, USA - Newfoundland to New York, Australia.