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Electronic Flora of South Australia Species Fact Sheet

Caulerpa annulata Lucas 1931: 410, pl. 27 fig. 1.

Phylum Chlorophyta – Order Caulerpales – Family Caulerpaceae

Selected citations: Womersley 1956: 365.

Stolon coarse, 2–3.5 mm in diameter, naked, cartilaginous, epilithic. Erect fronds (Fig. 90D) medium to dark green, with simple or occasionally branched axes, 3–7 (–25) cm high and 1.5–2 cm across, with the axis 1.5–3 mm in diameter and constricted just above the position of the opposite pairs of ramuli, moniliform from the base up with the upper segments L/B 1–1.5. Ramuli (Fig. 92B) oppositely and distichously arranged, elongate-ovoid to clavate, 4–10 mm long and 2–3.5 mm in diameter, thick walled (often shiny when dried).

Type from Port Arthur, Tas. (Lucas); in NSW.

Selected specimens: Nora Creina, S. Aust., drift (Womersley, 8.viii.1961; ADU, A25466). Cape Banks, S. Aust., sublittoral (Ottaway, 31.i.1981; ADU, A52142). Walkerville, Vic., drift (Sinkora A2371, 19.iii.1977; ADU, A48232). Port Arthur, Tas. (Mawle, Sept.1931: ADU, A12226 ex Lucas Herb.).


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

Distribution: From Nora Creina, S. Aust. to Walkerville, Vic., and Port Arthur and Actaeon I., Tasmania. Probably mainly a deep water species, known from only a few collections. The Ardrossan, S. Aust. specimen (MEL 584834) (Womersley 1956, p. 365) is now referred to C. geminata Harvey.

Taxonomic notes: C. annulata appears to be a deeper growing species on rough-water coasts, distinguished by its dimensions and the constricted, moniliform axes to the erect fronds. These characteristics separate most specimens satisfactorily from the distichous, clavate ramuli, form of C. gerninata.

References:

LUCAS, A.H.S. (1931). Notes on Australian marine algae. VI. Proc. Linn. Soc. N.S. W. 56, 407–411, Plates 23–27.

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 90D, 92B.

Figure 90 image

Figure 90   enlarge

Fig. 90. A. Caulerpa flexilis (ADU, A46868). B. Caulerpa flexilis var. muelleri (ADU, A44576). C. Caulerpa geminata (ADU, A34106). D. Caulerpa annulata (ADU, Al2226).

Figure 92 image

Figure 92   enlarge

Fig. 92. A. Caulerpa geminata, ramuli on axis (ADU, A50951). B. Caulerpa annulata, ramuli on axis (ADU, A48232). C. Caulerpa cactoides, lower axis with ramuli, on stolon (ADU, A43586). D. Caulerpa racemosa var. laetevirens f. cylindracea, ramuli (ADU, A50562). E. Caulerpa papillosa, cross section of axis with ramuli (ADU, A26451). F. Caulerpa vesiculifera, cross section of axis with ramuli (ADU, A32487). G. Caulerpa simpliciuscula cross section of axis with ramuli (ADU, A32488).


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