Electronic Flora of South Australia Species Fact Sheet

Rhipiliopsis peltata (J. Agardh) Gepp & Gepp 1911: 45, figs 118–122.

Phylum Chlorophyta – Order Caulerpales – Family Udoteaceae

Selected citations: Womersley 1956: 376; 1971a: 116, fig. 12.

Thallus (Fig. 83C) medium to dark green, (1–) 2–4 (–6) cm high and (0.5–) 1–2 (–7) cm across, with a short stipe to I cm long broadening gradually or very rapidly into an ovate, reniform or irregularly elongate lamina, occasionally slightly lobed or lacerate, usually faintly zonate, thin (0.5–1 mm and several filaments thick), felt-like and spongy. Filaments (Fig. 85D) slender, (12–) 18–25 µm in diameter, thin walled, repeatedly subdichotomous and laxly interwoven, constricted adjacent to a subdichotomy, with branch ends forming the surface layer: chloroplasts ovoid, amyloplasts present (Fig. 85E).

Reproduction: Reproduction from ovoid to pyriform, stalked zooidangia formed laterally on the medullary filaments (Fig. 85D).

Type from Port Phillip Heads, Vic.; in Herb. Agardh, LD, 15800.

Selected specimens: Hopetoun, W. Aust., 3–4 m deep near jetty (Kraft (6982) & Ricker, 16.viii.1979; ADU, A50720). Topgallant I., off W. coast of Eyre Pen., S. Aust., 20–25 m deep (Shepherd, 8.xi.1980; ADU, A51874). Tiparra reef, Spencer Gulf, S. Aust., 6 m deep (Shepherd, 5.xi.1971; ADU, A38304). Pennington Bay, Kangaroo I., S. Aust., shaded pool (Womersley, 4.i.1948; ADU, A6467). Nora Creina, S. Aust., in heavily shaded pool (Womersley, 17.i.1971; ADU, A37817-"Marine Algae of southern Australia" No. 24). Inverloch, Vic., rock pool (Ducker, 28.i.1969; MELU, 4267).

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

Distribution: From Hopetoun, W. Aust., to Inverloch, Vic., from low tide level (shaded) to 31 m deep on rough-water coasts.

Taxonomic notes: R. peltata is often common in shaded, just subtidal areas on rough-water coasts.

References:

GEPP, A. & GEPP, E.S. (1911). The Codiaceae of the Siboga Expedition, including a monograph of Flabellarieae and Udoteae. Monogr. Siboga-Exped. 62, 1–150, Plates 1–22.

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.

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 83C, 85D,E.

Figure 83   enlarge

Fig. 83. A. Callipsygma wilsonis (ADU, A37818). B. Rhipilia pusilla (ADU, A32893). C. Rhipiliopsis peltata (ADU, A37817). D. Rhipiliopsis robusta (ADU, A41215). E. Avrainvillea clavatiramea (ADU, A33962).

Figure 85   enlarge

Fig. 85. A–C. Rhipilia pusilla (ADU, A32893). A. Filaments of thallus. B. Filaments with lateral tenaculum attachment. C. Filament with tenaculum, and chloroplasts and amyloplasts. D–E. Rhipiliopsis peltata (ADU, A51874). D. Filaments with lateral zooidangia on lower filaments and several lateral attachment areas. E. Details of filaments near surface, with chloroplasts and amyloplasts. F–H. Rhipillopsis rohusta (ADU, A41215). F. Filaments with several lateral connections as seen in lengthwise section of the thallus. G. Segments with perforated end walls and lateral connections. H. Part of segment with chloroplasts and amyloplasts. I–K. Avrainvillea clavatiramea (ADU, A33962). I. Filaments from upper thallus. J. Upper branch. K. Branch of a filament, with chloroplasts and amyloplasts.

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