Electronic Flora of South Australia Species Fact Sheet

Halimeda cuneata Hering.

Phylum Chlorophyta – Order Caulerpales – Family Udoteaceae

Selected citations: Hillis 1959: 345, pl. 1 fig. 6, pl. 5 figs 1,2, pl. 6 fig 10, pl. 7 fig. 7, pl. 9. Hillis-Colinvaux 1980: 124, figs 36, 61. Womersley 1956: 375.

Thallus (Fig. 81C) light green, to 15 cm high, arising from a distinct holdfast 0.5–1 cm long, calcification light, surface smooth; branching dichotomous to occasionally polychotomous, the basal segment subcylindrical, upper segments cuneate to subcuneate or discoid, to 16 mm long and 18 mm broad, 0.5–1 (–1.5) mm thick, occasionally with a small cushion segment at the node. Cortex (Fig. 82F) of 2–4 layers of utricles, outermost remaining firmly attached after decalcification, 25–65 µm in surface diameter (Fig. 82E), 55–100(4 35) µm long, and usually 4 on each secondary utricle. Nodal medullary filaments (Fig. 82G) united in groups of 2 or 3, the fused units entangled.

Reproduction: Reproduction not recorded.

Type from Durban, South Africa (Krauss); in BM (see Hillis 1959, p. 346).

Selected specimens: City of York Bay, Rottnest I., W. Aust., 3 m deep (Clarke & Engler, 6.ix.1979; ADU, A51 138). Hamelin Bay, W. Aust., uppermost sublittoral (Womersley, 1.ix.1979; ADU, A50610-"Marine Algae of southern Australia" No. 190). Goose I. Bay, Middle I., Recherche Arch., W. Aust., uppermost sublittoral (Trudgen, Nov. 1974; ADU, A51665).

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

Distribution: Subtropical waters of south-eastern Africa, Lord Howe I.

Western Australian coast from the tropics around to Middle I., Recherche Arch., on the south coast; from low water level to 6 m deep.

References:

HILLIS, L.W. (1959). A revision of the genus Halimeda (Order Siphonales). Pub. Inst. Mar. Sci. Univ. Texas 6, 321–403.

HILLIS-COLINVAUX, L. (1980). Ecology and taxonomy of Halimeda: Primary producer of coral reefs. Adv. Mar. Biol. 17, 1–327.

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 81C, 82 E–G.

Figure 81   enlarge

Fig. 81. A. Pseudochlorodesmis australis (ADU, Al2250, type). B. Chlorodesmis baculifera (ADU. A51906. right hand specimen fertile). C. Halimeda cuneata (ADU. A50610). D. Pseudocodium australasicum(ADU. A 13618, type).

Figure 82   enlarge

Fig. 82. A,B. Pseudochlorodesmis australis (ADU, Al2250, type). A. A tuft of filaments. B. Detail of basal dichotomies. C,D. Chlorodesmis baculifera (ADU, A51906). C. Part of filament showing branching. D. Fertile filaments with zooidangia. E–G. Halimeda cuneata (ADU, A50610). E. Surface view of cortical cells. F. Peripheral, secondary and tertiary utricles. G. Nodal organisation, with filaments united in groups at base of node.

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