Electronic Flora of South Australia Species Fact Sheet

Pseudocodium australasicum Womersley 1955: 390, figs 5,6.

Phylum Chlorophyta – Order Caulerpales – Family Udoteaceae

Thallus (Fig. 81D) dark green, erect, subdichotomous to irregularly branched partly in one plane, to 6 cm high, branches 1–2 mm broad, compressed, holdfast small. Medulla (Fig. 84A) of longitudinal, branched filaments 13–28 µm in diameter, forming a surface cortical layer (12–27 µm wide) of short clavate branches 4–7 µm in diameter (Fig. 84A) adhering together as seen in surface view. Chloroplasts ovoid, 2–3 µm long; amyloplasts sparse.

Reproduction: Reproduction unknown.

Type from Point Sinclair, S. Aust., uppermost sublittoral (Womersley, 25.i.1951); in ADU, A13618.

Selected specimens: Hopetoun, W. Aust., 2–3 m deep (Kraft (6995) & Ricker, 16.viii.1979; ADU, A 50717). 16 km E. of Eucla, S. Aust., drift ( Womersley, 3.ii.1954; ADU, A19239).

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

Distribution: From Hopetoun, W. Aust. to Point Sinclair, S. Aust.

References:

WOMERSLEY, H.B.S. (1955). New marine Chlorophyta from southern Australia. Pacif. Sci. 9, 387–395.

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 81D, 84A.

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 84   enlarge

Fig. 84. A. Pseudocodium australasicum (ADU, A13618). Longitudinal thallus structure. B–F. Callipsygma wilsonis. B. Loosely branched filaments (ADU, A32028). C. Flabellate tuft largely complanately branched. D. Detail of C showing lateral attachments. E. Apex of cell with two daughter cells and perforations between cells; lateral attachment to cell on left; chloroplasts, amyloplasts and acicular crystals. F. Cross section of older part showing short lateral chains of cells. (C–F ADU, A37818)

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