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Electronic Flora of South Australia Species Fact Sheet
Phylum Chlorophyta – Order Caulerpales – Family Udoteaceae
Synonyms
Bryopsis baculifera J. Agardh 1887: 21. Womersley 1956: 363.
Chlorodesmis bulbosa (Womersley) Ducker 1965: 149, figs 1–4.
Cladophoropsis bulbosa Womersley 1955: 391, figs 8, 9; 1956: 376.
Thallus (Fig. 81B) medium to dark green, erect, densely tufted, 4–10 (–16) cm high, attached by colourless rhizoids and when adult arising from a matted bulbous base up to 2 cm high, formed of entangled rhizoids. Filaments (Fig. 82C) sparsely branched, of uniform width throughout, (250–) 300–500 (–600) µm in diameter; wall lamellate, 6–10 µm thick; lateral branches slightly basally constricted; chloroplasts ovoid to lenticular, 2–4 µm long; amyloplasts elongate-ovoid, 6–10 µm long.
Reproduction: Reproduction (Ducker 1965) in much branched fertile tufts borne laterally on the filaments, with each branch of the tuft bearing numerous ovoid laterals (Fig. 82D) which form biflagellate reproductive bodies (probably gametes) which are discharged through the branch apex; fertile in early summer (Nov.-Dec.).
Type from Port Phillip Heads, Vic.; in Herb. Agardh, LD, 14898.
Selected specimens: Waterloo Bay (Elliston), S. Aust., 9 m deep (Shepherd, 8.xi.1980; ADU, A51906.). Pearson I., S. Aust., 30–35 m deep (Shepherd, 7.i.1969; ADU, A34149). Pennington Bay, Kangaroo I., S. Aust., drift (Womersley, 31.xii.1949; ADU, A12825). Robe, S. Aust., upper sublittoral in bay (Dawes, 18.v.1964; ADU, A27842). Point Nepean, Vic., in deep pool (Price, 9.xii.1963; MELU, 1352). Waratah Bay, Vic., drift (Sinkora A2124, 1.iii.1975; ADU, A48299).
Distribution: From Waterloo Bay (Elliston), S. Aust. to Waratah Bay, Vic. and the north coast of Tasmania. This is an uncommon species, apparently confined to deep water or shaded habitats.
References:
AGARDH, J.G. (1887). Till algernes systematik. VIII. Siphoneac. Acta Univ. hind. 23, 1–180. Plates 1–5.
DUCKER, S.C. (1965). The structure and reproduction of the green alga Chlorodesmis bulbosa. Phycologia 4, 149–162.
DUCKER, S.C. (1966). An earlier name for the green alga Chlorodesmis bulbosa. Phycologia 5, 245–246.
DUCKER, S.C. (1967). The genus Chlorodesmis (Chlorophyta) in the Indo-Pacific Region. Nova Hedwigia 13, 145–182, Plates 25–43.
WOMERSLEY, H.B.S. (1955). New marine Chlorophyta from southern Australia. Pacif. Sci. 9, 387–395.
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.
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 81B, 82C,D.
Figure 81 enlarge
Fig. 81. A. Pseudochlorodesmis australis (ADU, Al2250, type). B. Chlorodesmis baculifera (ADU. A51906. right hand specimen fertile). C. Halimeda cuneata (ADU. A50610). D. Pseudocodium australasicum(ADU. A 13618, type).
Figure 82 enlarge
Fig. 82. A,B. Pseudochlorodesmis australis (ADU, Al2250, type). A. A tuft of filaments. B. Detail of basal dichotomies. C,D. Chlorodesmis baculifera (ADU, A51906). C. Part of filament showing branching. D. Fertile filaments with zooidangia. E–G. Halimeda cuneata (ADU, A50610). E. Surface view of cortical cells. F. Peripheral, secondary and tertiary utricles. G. Nodal organisation, with filaments united in groups at base of node.
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