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Electronic Flora of South Australia Species Fact Sheet

Codium muelleri Kützing 1856: pl. 95 fig. II.

Phylum Chlorophyta – Order Codiales – Family Codiaceae

Selected citations: Silva & Womersley 1956: 278, fig. 12.

Thallus (Fig. 79B) moderately firm, medium green, erect, repeatedly dichotomous, to 25 cm high, branches terete, 2.5–5 mm in diameter, decreasing slightly to about 1.5 mm in diameter near apices. Utricles (Fig. 80B) relatively short and often broadest somewhat below the apex, 130–520 µm in diameter and 290–960 long, apices broadly rounded to sub-truncate, with wall thin or occasionally thickened (to 50 µm) but always with a distinct introrse umbo to 45 µm long; hairs (or scars) common. Medullary filaments 30–60 µm in diameter, with the plug distant (80–350 µm) from the utricle base. Gametangia elongate-ovoid, often tapering above, 70–150 µm in diameter and 120–290 µm long, 1–4 per utricle, borne on a slight protuberance on lower half of utricle.

Type from Lefevre Peninsula, S. Aust.; in L, 937, 337 ... 772.

Selected specimens: Rottnest I., W. Aust., upper sublittoral (Wollaston, 31.i.1957; ADU, A21058). Avoid Bay, S. Aust., drift (Womersley, 30.xi.1975; ADU, A46819). Vivonne bay, Kangaroo I., S. Aust., drift (Womersley, 17.i.1950; ADU, A12609). Marino, S. Aust., drift (Womersley, 21.v.1953; ADU, A18661 and UC). Robe, S. Aust., drift (Womersley, 7.ii.1970; ADU, A35176- "Marine Algae of southern Australia" No. 21). Queenscliff, Vic., drift (Wollaston, 17.viii.1956; ADU, A20574).


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

Distribution: From Dongara, W. Aust. to Walkerville, Vic.

Taxonomic notes: This is a sublittoral species (to 11 m deep) on coasts of moderate wave action, and is distinguished by the introrse umbo on the apical wall of the utricles, as well as by utricle dimensions and position of the plug.

References:

KÜTZING, F.T. (1856). Tabulae Phycologicae. Vol. 6. (Nordhausen.)

SILVA, P.C. & WOMERSLEY, H.B.S. (1956). The genus Codium (Chlorophyta) in southern Australia. Aust. J. Bot. 4, 261–289.

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 79B, 80B.

Figure 79 image

Figure 79   enlarge

Fig. 79. A. Codium harveyi (ADU, A10557, type). B. Codium muelleri (ADU, A35176). C. Codium australicum (ADU, A38221). D. Codium fragile (ADU, A34854). E. Codium spinescens (ADU, A19240. type).

Figure 80 image

Figure 80   enlarge

Fig. 80. Utricle clusters with gametangia. A. Codium harveyi (Perrin in UC and Mackay in K (right)). B. Codium muelleri (ADU. A18661). C. Codium australicum (Cribb 150.1 in UC). D. Codium fragile s.sp. tasmanicum (Cribb 126.9 in UC). E. Codium fragile s.sp. novae-zelandiae (ADU, A31711). F. Codium spinescens (Royce 616 in PERTH). (After Silva & Womersley 1956.)


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