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Electronic Flora of South Australia Species Fact Sheet

Chaetomorpha indica (Kützing) Kützing 1849: 376.

Phylum Chlorophyta – Order Cladophorales – Family Cladophoraceae

Selected citations: Womersley 1956: 357.

Thallus (Fig. 56D) light to medium green, loose-lying as masses of long strands (to 15 cm long) or entangled with other algae, in the uppermost sublittoral. Filaments unbranched, apparently without attachment cells, of similar diameter throughout (Fig. 57G). Cells (100–) 105–130 (–150) in diameter and L/B (1–) 1.5–2.5, often collapsing on drying; wall 3–7 µm thick; chloroplasts openly to fairly densely reticulate, with numerous pyrenoids; nuclei numerous.

Reproduction: Reproduction unknown.

Type from Tranquebar, India; in L (936, 249...72).

Selected specimens: Coffin Bay, S. Aust., upper sublittoral on flats (Womersley, 10.i.1951; ADU, A13756). Boat Lake, Robe, S. Aust., loose-lying, intertidal (Womersley, 28.ii.1983; ADU, A54005).


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

Distribution: India. Queensland.

In southern Australia, known from Walpole Inlet, W. Aust., Coffin Bay and Robe, S. Aust., and Swan Bay, Port Phillip, Vic. Also recorded from Port Adelaide, S. Aust. by Tate and Tasmania (?) by Lucas (see Womersley 1956, p. 357). Probably more widely distributed in sheltered waters.

Taxonomic notes: In contrast to Ch. capillaris which occurs in mid to upper eulittoral situations, Ch. indica seems to be a shallow water and floating or loose-lying upper sublittoral species. The size and proportions of the cells seems to separate these two species satisfactorily, but other names may prove to be synonyms of Ch. indica (e.g. Ch. brachygona — see Womersley 1956, p. 357).

References:

KÜTZING, F.T. (1849). Species Algarum. (Leipzig.)

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 56D, 57G.

Figure 56 image

Figure 56   enlarge

Fig. 56. A. Chaetomorpha billardierii (ADU, A8639). B. Chaetomorpha valida (ADU, A5668). C. Chaetomorpha capillaris (ADU, Al2783). D. Chaetomorpha indica (ADU, A13756).

Figure 57 image

Figure 57   enlarge

Fig. 57. Parts of filaments of A. Chaetomorpha linum (ADU, A52981). B,C. Chaetomorpha B. (ADU, A13745). C. (ADU, A6766). D. Chaetomorpha valida (ADU, A5668). E,F. Chaetomorpha capillaris (ADU, A 12783). G. Chaetomorpha indica (ADU, A 13756).


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