Electronic Flora of South Australia Species Fact Sheet

Cladophora dalmatica Kützing 1843: 268.

Phylum Chlorophyta – Order Cladophorales – Family Cladophoraceae

Selected citations: van den Hoek 1963: 186, figs 435, 601–635; 1982: 150, figs 295–312.

Thallus (Fig. 64D) light to medium green, forming dense small tufts 1–2 cm high in areas subject to moderate wave-wash, or loose tufts to 10 cm high in calm-water areas, much branched from a clumped base attached by rhizoids from cells in the basal region, epilithic or epiphytic; filaments tapering distinctly from main axes towards apical cells, branched from almost every cell above, with usually distinctly falcate and unilateral branchlets (Fig. 65F). Growth acropetal and mainly apical above, with intercalary divisions in the mid and lower thallus cells thus separating the laterals by 2–5 or more cells but with few intercalated laterals below intercalary cross walls; each parent cell bearing 1–3 (–5) laterals mostly at an angle of 45° or more; basal cross walls of young laterals oblique (sometimes steeply inclined) to parent cell above, becoming almost horizontal later.

Apical cells 15–28 µm in diameter, L/B 3–9, cylindrical or slightly tapering, occasionally broader near their apex, apically rounded; ultimate branch cells 15–32 µm in diameter, L/B 4–9; lower thallus cells 65–140 µm in diameter, L/B 4–10; ratio of lower cell to apical cell diameters 3–6; cell walls thin (0.5–2 µm) above, relatively thick (up to 10 gm) below.

Reproduction: Reproduction by apical and subapical cells forming zooidangia; in Europe by biflagellate gametes and quadriflagellate zoospores (van den Hoek 1963, p. 189).

Type from Port of Spalato (Split), Yugoslavia; in L, 937, 281 . . 406.

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

Distribution: Widely distributed along tropical to warm temperate Atlantic coasts of America, Europe and W. Africa (including Mediterranean) (van den Hoek 1982, p. 153–156, map. 18).

In southern Australia known from Baird Bay, S. Aust., upper sublittoral, mixed with Cl. laetevirens (Womersley, l1.ii.1954; ADU, A52569). Barker Rocks, Yorke Pen., S. Aust., mid eulittoral depressions (van den Hoek 81/63, 20.ix.1981; ADU, A52561-"Marine Algae of southern Australia" No. 224). Barker Rocks, Yorke Pen., S. Aust., low eulittoral, dense cushions composed of basal remnants (Womersley, 25.iii.1967; ADU, A31379). American R. Inlet, Kangaroo I., S. Aust., epiphytic on Heterozostera (Womersley, 26.ix.1946; ADU, A3154).

Taxonomic notes: Cl. dalmatica has the typical glomerate habit and is distinguished from Cl. laetevirens and Cl. vagabunda by its slenderer habit, with apical cells less than 30 µm in diameter. The filaments increase considerably in diameter, as in Cl. vagabunda, but in contrast to Cl. laetevirens, Cl. lehmanniana and Cl. valonioides where the increase is much more gradual and smaller.

References:

KÜTZING, F.T. (1843). Phycologia generalis. (Leipzig.)

VAN DEN HOEK, C. (1963). Revision of the European species of Cladophora. (Brill: Leiden.)

VAN DEN HOEK, C. (1982). A taxonomic revision of the American species of Cladophora (Chlorophyceae) in the North Atlantic Ocean and their geographic distribution. Verh. k. Ned. Akad. Wet. Afd. Natuurkd. Tweede Reeks, Part 78.

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

Author: C. van den Hoek and 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 64D, 65F.

Figure 64   enlarge

Fig. 64. A. Cladophora valonioides (ADU, A53016). B. Cladophora lehmanniana (ADU, A34858). C. Cladophora laetevirens (ADU, A22489). D. Cladophora dalmatica (ADU, A52561). E. Cladophora vagabunda (ADU, A52692).

Figure 65   enlarge

Fig. 65. A,B. Cladophora valonioides (A, Isotype in TCD; B, ADU, A50892). A. Upper branch system. B. Upper branches to same scale as C–D. C–D. Cladophora lehmanniana (C, ADU, A52670; D, ADU, A52616). C. Upper branch system. D. Upper reproductive cells. E. Cladophora laetevirens (ADU, A22489). Upper branch system. F. Cladophora dalmatica (ADU, A52561). Upper branch system. G. Cladophora vagabunda (C. van den Hoek 81/65). Upper branch system.

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