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Electronic Flora of South Australia Species Fact Sheet

Caulerpa racemosa (Forskal) J. Agardh var. laetevirens (Montagne) Weber van Bosse.

Phylum Chlorophyta – Order Caulerpales – Family Caulerpaceae

Synonyms

f. cylindracea (Sonder) Weber van Bosse 1898: 366, pl. 33 figs 17–20. Womersley 1956: 368.

Caulerpa cylindracea Sonder. Harvey 1858: pl. 30.

Stolon slender to moderate, 0.7–1.5 (–2) mm in diameter, naked, in firm sandy mud substrate or epilithic. Erect fronds (Fig. 91B) medium green, with simple or occasionally branched axes, (1–) 4–7 (–10) cm high and 3–8 mm across with the axis 0.5–1 mm thick, bearing vesiculate ramuli loosely to moderately densely on all sides. Ratnuli (Fig. 92D) upwardly directed, clavate, (1.5–) 2–5 (–7) mm long and (0.5–) 1–1.5 (–2) mm in greatest diameter shortly below the rounded apices, tapering gradually to a relatively broad and unconstricted attachment to the axes.

Type (of form) from W. Aust. (Preiss); in MEL, 516014.

Selected specimens: Whitfords Beach, Perth, W. Aust., 4 m deep (Cook, 20.viii.1979; ADU, A50562). Point Peron, W. Aust., upper sublittoral pools ( Womersley, 29.ix.1979: ADU, A50713-"Marine Algae of southern Australia" No. 189). Hopetoun, W. Aust., upper sublittoral on reef (Wollaston, 20.6.1957: ADU, A22149).


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

Distribution: From tropical W. Aust. around the south-west coast to King Georges Sound, usually in the uppermost sublittoral.

Taxonomic notes: This tropical species just extends into southern Australia. It is readily distinguished by the clavate ramuli with broad attachment to the axes. The ramuli vary considerably in density, being sparser nearer the eastern end of its range.

References:

HARVEY, W.H. (1858). Phycologia Australica. Vol. 1, Plates 1–60. (Reeve: London.)

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 91B, 92D.

Figure 91 image

Figure 91   enlarge

Fig. 91. A. Caulerpa cactoides (ADU, A43586). B. Caulerpa racemosa var. laetevirens f. cylindracea (ADU. A50562). C. Caulerpa papillosa (ADV. A26451). D. Caulerpa vesiculifera (ADV. A32487). E. Caulerpa simpliciuscula (ADU, A32488).

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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