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Electronic Flora of South Australia Species Fact Sheet

Caulerpa alternans Womersley 1956: 364.

Phylum Chlorophyta – Order Caulerpales – Family Caulerpaceae

Synonym

C. alternifolia J. Agardh 1887: 129. Weber van Bosse 1898: 298, pl. 15 fig. 1.

Stolon very slender, (250–) 400–600 µm in diameter, naked, usually epilithic. Erect fronds (Fig. 86A) medium green, simple or irregularly branched 1–4 times, to 10 cm high, with a terete axis 250–500 µm in diameter bearing alternately and distichously arranged ramuli usually (0.2–) 0.5–1 mm apart. Ramuli (Fig. 87A) straight to slightly upwardly curved, terete to slightly tapering, (1–) 1.5–2.5 (–3) mm long and (150–) 200–300 µm in diameter, with a short, spinous tip.

Lectotype from Port Phillip Heads, Vic. (Wilson); in Herb. Agardh, LD, 16416.

Selected specimens: Off Troubridge Light, Gulf St Vincent, S. Aust. , 17 m deep (Shepherd, 4.ii.1969, ADU, A33416-"Marine Algae of southern Australia" No. 5). W. of Tapley Shoal, Gulf St Vincent, S. Aust., 14 m deep ( Wood, 17.i.1981; ADU, A51964).


Distribution map based
on current data relating to
specimens held in the
State Herbarium of SA

Distribution: Only known from the type locality and from deep water (13–40m) in Gulf St Vincent and Spencer Gulf, S. Aust.

Taxonomic notes: This is the slenderest species of Caulerpa on southern Australian coasts, and is distinguished by the narrow, terete, distichous ramuli. It appears to be a relatively rare species confined to deep water.

References:

AGARDH, J.G. (1887). Till algernes systematik. VIII. Siphoneac. Acta Univ. hind. 23, 1–180. Plates 1–5.

WEBER van BOSSE, A. (1898). Monographie des Caulerpes. Ann. Jardin Bot. Buitenzorg 15, 243–401, Plates 20–34.

WOMERSLEY, H.B.S. (1956). A critical survey of the marine algae of southern Australia. I. Chlorophyta. Aust. J. mar. freshw. Res. 7, 343–383.

The Marine Benthic Flora of Southern Australia Part I complete list of references.

Author: H.B.S. Womersley

Publication: Womersley, H.B.S. (31 May, 1984)
The Marine Benthic Flora of Southern Australia
Part I
©Board of the Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium, Government of South Australia


Illustrations in Womersley Part I, 1984: FIGS 86A, 87A.

Figure 86 image

Figure 86   enlarge

Fig. 86. A. Caulerpa alternans (ADU, A33416). B. Caulerpa remotifolia (ADU, A28219). C. Caulerpa distichophylla (ADU, A50590). D. Caulerpa scalpelliformis (ADU, A31660). E. Caulerpa scalpelliformis (ADU, A31825). F. Caulerpa ellistoniae (ADU, A 13426).

Figure 87 image

Figure 87   enlarge

Fig. 87. A. Caulerpa alternans (ADU, A33416). B. Caulerpa remotifolia. upper (BI) and mid (B2) parts of erect frond (ADU, A2829). C. Caulerpa distichophylla, upper (CI) and mid (C2) parts of erect frond (ADU, A50590). D. Caulerpa scalpelliformis, upper (DI) and mid (D2) parts of erect frond (ADU. A31660). E. Caulerpa scalpelliformis, upper (EI) and mid (E2) parts of erect frond (ADU, A31825). F. Caulerpa ellistoniae, upper (FI) and mid (F2) parts of erect frond (ADU, A13426).


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