Electronic Flora of South Australia Species Fact Sheet

Caulerpa longifolia C. Agardh.

Phylum Chlorophyta – Order Caulerpales – Family Caulerpaceae

Selected citations: Lucas 1936: fig. 18. Womersley 1956: 367.

Stolon coarse, (1–) 2–4 mm in diameter, cartilaginous, naked, epilithic. Erect fronds (Fig. 88A) medium to dark green, with simple or rarely branched axes, usually 15–50 (–65) cm high and 1–2 (–3) cm across; axes terete, naked below and 1–3 mm in diameter above, bearing normally 5 regular rows (occasionally 4 or 6 rows) of slender, terete, ramuli. Ramuli (Fig. 89A) separated by about their basal width, 0.5–1.5 cm long and 300–450 (–600) gm in diameter, linear, directed and curved upwards, tapering near their apices to a short, blunt or spinous tip.

Type from southern Australia; in PC.

Selected specimens: D'Entrecasteaux Reef, E. of Head of Great Australian Bight, S. Aust., 15–20 m deep (Shepherd, 27.iii.1980; ADU, A52146). Point Avoid, Eyre Pen., S. Aust., drift (Womersley, 2.xii.1975; ADU, A46863). Nora Creina, S. Aust., 3–8 m deep (Owen, 3.ix.1971; ADU, A39569). Seal Bay, Kangaroo I., S. Aust., drift ( Womersley, 31.x.1966; ADU, A30952). Walkerville, Vic., drift (Sinkora A2060, 26.ii.1975; ADU, A48346). Musselroe Bay, Tas. (Perrin 86, Jan. 1939; ADU, A47101).

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

Distribution: From Eucla, W. Aust. to Wilsons Promontory, Vic., and around Tasmania, on rough-water coasts from rock pools down to 40 m.

References:

LUCAS, A.H.S. (1936). The Seaweeds of South Australia. Pt. I. Introduction and the Green and Brown Seaweeds. (Govt Printer: Adelaide.)

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 88A, 89A.

Figure 88   enlarge

Fig. 88. A. Caulerpa longifolia (ADU, A39569). B. Caulerpa longifolia f. crispata (ADU, A34035). C. Caulerpa trifaria (ADU, A33516). D. Caulerpa brownii(ADU, A26535). E. Caulerpa brownii (ADU, A46864). F. Caulerpa cliftonii(ADU, A34037). G. Caulerpa obscura (ADU, A38574). H. Caulerpa hedleyi (ADU, A38175).

Figure 89   enlarge

Fig. 89. A. Caulerpa longifolia, ramuli (ADU, A39569). B. Caulerpa longifolia f. crispata, ramuli (ADU, A34035). C. Caulerpa trifaria, ramuli (ADU, A33516). D. Caulerpa brownii, ramuli (ADU, A26535). E. Caulerpa cliftonii, branched ramulus (ADU, A34037). F. Caulerpa obscura, secondary lateral with ramuli (FI) and apex of ramulus (F2) (ADU, A38574). G. Caulerpa flexilis, ramuli (ADU, A46868). H. Caulerpa hedleyi, ramuli on axis (HI) and single ramulus (H2) (ADU, A38175).

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