E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Flora of British Columbia

Family Description:
The sporophyte is the macroscopic phase in the life history of members of this family. It can form parenchymatous blades or hollow, globose sacs or tubes whose reproductive organs can protrude from the cortex or occur in sori over its surface. In some species, reproductive cells from these sporangia repeat the same phase rather than give rise to the gametophyte. Sexual reproduction, where it is known, is isogamous and occurs in the microscopic, filamentous gametophytes.

Species description:
Another epiphyte, Studded Sea Balloons are annuals that grow only on Neorhodomela or Odonthalia, two genera of red algae. In our area, they are reported to prefer Odonthalia; we have not confirmed this.

Individuals from southern British Columbia/northern Washington can withstand a week of immersion in water at 20°C (68°F) but die at higher temperatures.