Electronic Flora of South Australia Species Fact Sheet

Caulerpa ellistoniae Womersley 1955: 387, fig. 2; 1971a: 115.

Phylum Chlorophyta – Order Caulerpales – Family Caulerpaceae

Stolon robust, 2–4 mm in diameter, cartilaginous, naked, epilithic. Erect fronds (Fig. 86F) medium to dark green, several times branched, often di- to polychotomous, usually 10–25 cm high and 8–12 mm broad; axes terete and naked below, above compressed, 1–2 mm broad, bearing distichous, closely adjacent, alternate ramuli. Ramuli (Fig. 87F) separated by about their basal width, strongly compressed, 4–8 mm long and 0.7–1.5 mm broad, basally constricted with a fairly straight lower edge and convex upper edge, tapering in the upper quarter to one third to an acute tip.

Type from Elliston, S. Aust., drift (Womersley, 13.i.1951); in ADU, A13426.

Selected specimens: 10 km S.W. of Rottnest I., W. Aust., 64 m deep (Wilson, Feb. 1960: ADU, A24584 and UWA, A330). Pearson I., S. Aust., 36 m deep (Shepherd, 10.i.1969; ADU, A35153). Elliston, S. Aust., drift (Woelkerling, 28.xii.1976; ADU, A47859). 13 km S. of Vivonne Bay, Kangaroo I., S. Aust., 50–68 m deep from tray pots (Latz, 24.xi.1968; ADU, A32992).

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

Distribution: From Rottnest 1. and Cape Hamelin, W. Aust., Pearson I., Elliston, and Vivonne Bay, Kangaroo 1., in S. Aust. Usually confined to deep water [(7–) 25–68 m].

Taxonomic notes: C. ellistoniae is most closely related to C. scalpelliformis, differing in the form of the ramuli and branching of the erect axes.

References:

WOMERSLEY, H.B.S. (1955). New marine Chlorophyta from southern Australia. Pacif. Sci. 9, 387–395.

WOMERSLEY, H.B.S. (1971a). New records and taxa of marine Chlorophyta in southern Australia. Trans. R. Soc. S. Aust. 95, 113–120.

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 86F, 87F.

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   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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