Electronic Flora of South Australia Species Fact Sheet

Chlanidophora microphylla (Harvey) J. Agardh 1894a: 18, p1. 1 figs 3–5.

Phylum Phaeophyta – Order Dictyotales – Family Dictyotaceae – Tribe Zonarieae

Selected citations: Levring 1940: 2, fig. 1. Womersley 1967: 217.

Synonym

Zonaria microphylla Harvey 1862: pl. 195.

Thallus (Fig. 80A) medium to dark brown, usually 5–15 (–20) cm long, with one to several fronds arising from a matted rhizoidal holdfast 0.2–2 (–4) cm across and 0.2–2 cm long, with the lower branches covered with stupose rhizoids which originate 1–2 cm below the branch apices; epilithic. Growth from a row of many marginal cells (Fig. 81A) in active apices. Fronds (Figs 80A, 8 IB)irregularly lacerate and much branched at intervals of 1–4 mm, 200–500 (–1000) µm broad at active apices, with complanate terminal branches but becoming twisted and forming irregular, shaggy branches, with most laterals inactive and tapering to a pointed apex 1–3 cells across. Structure two cells thick (Fig. 81D) throughout from immediately behind the apical cells (Fig. 8IC), (50–) 60–100 µm thick, cells in surface view (15–) 20–25 µm across and L/B (2–) 4–6 (–8). Hair tufts (Fig. 81A,D) small, inconspicuous, hairs originating from small cells cut off laterally from thallus cells, 20–25 µm in diameter.

Reproduction: Sporangia (Fig. 81B,D) scattered on upper branches, external to the blades, with the stalk cell divided vertically (Fig. 81D), sporangia subspherical, 100–150 (–200) µm in diameter, dividing into four. Sexual reproduction unknown, apart from the record of Levring (1940, p. 2, fig. IC) of antheridia on a sporangial thallus.

Lectotype from Port Fairy, Vic. (Harvey, Alg. Aust. Exsicc. 81); in Herb. Harvey, TCD.

Selected specimens: Masillon I., Isles of St Francis, S. Aust., 22 m deep (Shepherd, 5.i.1971, ADU, A37885). Elliston, S. Aust., 28 m deep (Shepherd, 23.x.1970; ADU, A37456). Point Avoid, Eyre Pen., S. Aust., drift (Womersley, 2.xii.1975; ADU, A46859). Seal Bay, Kangaroo I., S. Aust., outer reef pool (Womersley, 29.x.1966; ADU, A31097). Cape du Couedic, Kangaroo I., S. Aust., reef pools (Womersley, 16.i.1965; ADU, A28962). Robe, S. Aust., drift ( Womersley, 11.xii.1969; ADU, A34861-"Marine Algae of southern Australia" No. 39). Nora Creina, S. Aust., uppermost sublittoral ( Womersley, 26.ii.1984; ADU, A54821-"Marine Algae of southern Australia" No. 39a). Warrnambool, Vic., drift (Womersley, 13.iv.1959; ADU, A22910). Queenscliff, Vic., drift (Womersley, 8.iv.1959; ADU, A22822). Inverloch, Vic., 4–5 m deep (Kraft 5065, 9.xii.1974; MELU, 035189).

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

Distribution: From the Isles of St Francis, S. Aust. to Inverloch, Vic.

Taxonomic notes: Chlandidophora microphylla may superficially resemble Halopteris, and occurs from shaded, upper sublittoral pools to 35 m deep.

References:

AGARDH, J.G. (1894a). Analecta Algologica. Cont. I. Acta Univ. lund. 29, 1–144, Plates 1, 2.

HARVEY, W.H. (1862). Phycologia Australica. Vol. 4, Plates 181–240. (Reeve: London.)

LEVRING, T. (1940). Die Phaeophyceengattungen Chlanidophora, Distromium und Svringoderma. K. fysiogr. sällsk. Lund. Forh. 10(20), 1–11.

WOMERSLEY, H.B.S. (1967). A critical survey of the marine algae of southern Australia. II. Phaeophyta. Aust. J. Bot. 15, 189–270.

The Marine Benthic Flora of Southern Australia Part II complete list of references.

Author: H.B.S. Womersley

Publication: Womersley, H.B.S. (14 December, 1987)
The Marine Benthic Flora of Southern Australia
Part II
©Board of the Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium, Government of South Australia

Illustrations in Womersley Part II, 1997: FIGS 80A, 81 A–D.

Figure 80   enlarge

Fig. 80. A. Chlanidophora microphylla (ADU, A54821). B. Distromium flabellatum (ADU, A19784, holotype). C. Distromium multilidum (ADU, A29525, holotype).

Figure 81   enlarge

Fig. 81. A–D. Chlanidophora microphylla (A,C, ADU, A28962; B,D, ADU, A31097). A. Actively growing apices and two hair tufts. B. Older branches with tapering inactive apices and scattered tetrasporangia. C. Longitudinal section of apical cell and segmentation. D. Transverse section of thallus with sporangia and phaeophycean hairs. E–I. Distromium flahellatum (ADU, A19784, holotype). E. Thallus lower surface, with concentric lines of hairs. F. Thallus upper surface with sorus of sporangia. G. Longitudinal section of apical cell and segmentation. H. Longitudinal section of thallus through a sporangial sorus, with hairs from lower surface. I. Transverse section of thallus with base of a hair.

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