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Electronic Flora of South Australia Genus Fact Sheet
Phylum Chlorophyta – Order Cladophorales – Family Cladophoraceae
Thallus of erect tufts or loose-lying filaments; unbranched; erect species mostly with the elongate basal cells producing attaching rhizoids, loose-lying species usually without basal cells. Filaments of erect species usually increasing in diameter upwards, those of loose-lying species of fairly uniform diameter; cell divisions intercalary. Cells with reticulate chloroplasts, with pyrenoids; nuclei numerous per cell; cell wall lamellate, often thick.
Reproduction: Reproduction: generations isomorphic, in most species with the gametophyte producing isogametes and the sporophyte quadriflagellate or biflagellate zoospores. New filaments arise from the basal rhizoids of some erect species and fragmentation occurs in loose-lying species.
Type species: Ch. melagonium (Weber & Mohr) Kützing.
Taxonomic notes: A genus of 20–30 species, widely distributed.
References:
KÜTZING, F.T. (1845). Phycologia Germanica. (Köhne: Nordhausen.)
The Marine Benthic Flora of Southern Australia Part I complete list of references.
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
KEY TO SPECIES OF CHAETOMORPHA
1. Filaments single or usually clumped, each attached by an elongate basal cell; filaments usually increasing in diameter above | 2 |
1. Filaments loose-lying and usually entangled, usually without any basal cells, of fairly uniform diameter throughout | 4 |
2. Filaments | Ch. coliformis |
2. Filaments less than 1 mm in diameter | 3 |
3. Basal cells less than 1 mm long, filaments usually less than 150 µm in diameter near the basal cell, increasing in diameter upwards to | Ch. aerea |
3. Basal cells usually | Ch. melagonium |
4. Filaments over 200 µm in diameter | 5 |
4. Filaments | 7 |
5. Cells mostly L/B about 1, rarely greater | Ch. linum |
5. Cells mostly L/B | 6 |
6. Filaments fairly straight and flaccid, colour light green becoming yellow-green 5 | Ch. billardierii |
6. Filaments curved or crisped, rigid, dark green | Ch. valida |
7. Filaments (65–) | Ch. capillaris |
7. Filaments (100–) | Ch. indica |
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