The lectotype species is Rosenvingea sanctae-crucis Børgesen and named for the Danish phycologist Lauritz Kolderup Rosenvinge (1858–1939).

(Huisman) It is furtherly distinguished by its erect thalli with alternate or dichotomous branches, an apical to subapical meristem, a single plastid and prominent pyrenoid in vegetative cells, and phaeophycean hairs.

Recorded occurrences include Florida, Bermuda, North Carolina, the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, Brazil, Mediterranean, Eastern tropical Atlantic, Red Sea, Indo-Pacific and Australia.

Its heteromorphic life history coupled with its great tolerance to environmental conditions manages this genus to survive transport by different vectors.

[6] Steroid, glycosides, alkaloids, and tannins were detected from the species of Rosenvingea collected in Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh.