Electronic Flora of South Australia Species Fact Sheet

Caulerpa distichophylla Sonder.

Phylum Chlorophyta – Order Caulerpales – Family Caulerpaceae

Selected citations: Harvey 1860: pl. 161. Weber van Bosse 1898: 341, pl. 31 fig. 1. Womersley 1956: 366.

StoIon slender, 0.5–1 mm in diameter, naked, epilithic or in sand. Erect fronds (Fig. 86C) medium to dark green, simple to several times branched, usually 4–15 cm high and 3–4 (–8) mm broad, terete below with the axis becoming compressed above and 0.5–1 mm broad, bearing opposite, distichously arranged (rarely with odd non-distichous ramuli), closely adjacent ramuli. Ramuli (Fig. 87C) slightly compressed, 1–2 (–3) mm long, slightly upwardly curved and broadest (0.2–0.5 mm) just above the slightly constricted base, tapering in their upper quarter to one third to a broad point.

Holotype from Western Australia (probably near Fremantle), (Preiss); in MEL, 503814.

Selected specimens: Seven mile beach, N. of Dongara, W. Aust., 0.5–2 m deep (Kirkman, 17.ix.1979; ADU, A51296). Whitfords Beach, Perth, W. Aust., 6 m deep (Kirkman, 16.viii.1979; ADU, A50590). Frenchmans Bay, King Georges Sound, W. Aust., lower eulittoral (Womersley, 29.viii.1979; ADU, A51659).

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

Distribution: From Seven mile beach, Dongara, to King Georges Sound, W. Aust.

Taxonomic notes: C. distichophylla is relatively common on the west coast of Western Australia in subtidal rock pools and to 6 metres deep, but apparently rare on the south coast. It is distinguishable by its dimensions and the crowded, opposite ramuli. Specimens from Kangaroo Island and Bridgewater Bay, Victoria, previously referred (Womersley 1956, p. 366) to C. distichophylla, have alternate ramuli and are now considered to be small plants, with unusually short ramuli, of C. scalpelliformis.

References:

HARVEY, W.H. (1860). Phycologia Australica. Vol. 3, Plates 121–180. (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 86C, 87C.

Figure 86   enlarge

Fig. 86. A. Caulerpa alternans (ADU, A33416). B. Caulerpa remotifolia (ADU, A28219). C. Caulerpa distichophylla (ADU, A50590). D. Caulerpa scalpelliformis (ADU, A31660). E. Caulerpa scalpelliformis (ADU, A31825). F. Caulerpa ellistoniae (ADU, A 13426).

Figure 87   enlarge

Fig. 87. A. Caulerpa alternans (ADU, A33416). B. Caulerpa remotifolia. upper (BI) and mid (B2) parts of erect frond (ADU, A2829). C. Caulerpa distichophylla, upper (CI) and mid (C2) parts of erect frond (ADU, A50590). D. Caulerpa scalpelliformis, upper (DI) and mid (D2) parts of erect frond (ADU. A31660). E. Caulerpa scalpelliformis, upper (EI) and mid (E2) parts of erect frond (ADU, A31825). F. Caulerpa ellistoniae, upper (FI) and mid (F2) parts of erect frond (ADU, A13426).

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