Electronic Flora of South Australia Species Fact Sheet

Myriodesma integrifolium Harvey 1859b: 286, pl. 186.

Phylum Phaeophyta – Order Fucales – Family Cystoseiraceae

Selected citations: Nizamuddin 1962d: 68–73, figs 1,4,7,8,9–14,37. Nizamuddin & Womersley 1967: 376, pls 70A, 73 fig. 3.

Thallus (Fig. 152) medium to dark brown, (10–) 20–40 cm long, with 2–3 essentially complanately branched fronds from each branch of the stipe. Holdfast discoid-conical, 2–10 mm across; epilithic. Stipe 2–10 cm long, with 1–5 di- or trichotomies at intervals of 2–6 cm, each 1–3 mm in diameter. Fronds 15–30 cm long, pinnate becoming bipinnate, alternately branched with branches 2–4 (–5) mm broad, linear and usually serrate (Fig. 155E) at least above, occasionally almost entire, basally slightly constricted; midrib conspicuous below, inconspicuous above. Growth from a three-sided apical cell in an apical depression. Structure of fronds 300–400 µm and 8–12 cells thick, with a medulla of elongate cells and a cortex of isodiametric cells with an inactive surface meristoderm of short cells.

Reproduction: Thalli monoecious. Conceptacles densely scattered over upper branches (Fig. 155E), with a narrow sterile margin, bisexual, with a basal tuft of phaeophycean hairs; oogonia sessile, ovoid, 50–80 µm long and 40–50 pm in diameter; antheridia sessile or on branched paraphyses, elongate-ovoid, 20–35 µm long and 10–15 µm in diameter.

Type from Georgetown, Tas. (Harvey); in Herb. Harvey, TCD.

Selected specimens: Cottesloe, W. Aust. (Lucas, Aug. 1928; Lucas Herb., NSW). Avoid Bay, S. Aust., drift (Womersley, 30.xi.1975; ADU, A46826). Investigator Str., S. Aust., 35°27'S, 137°17'E, 34 m deep ( Watson, 20.i.1971; ADU, A39203). Tiparra Reef, Spencer Gulf, S. Aust., 5–6 m deep (Shepherd, 31.x.1970; ADU, A37640). 5 km W. of Port Noarlunga, S. Aust., 21 m deep (Ottaway, 8.xii.1980; ADU A52121). D'Estrees Bay, Kangaroo I., S. Aust., drift (Womersley, 23.viii.1963; ADU, A26794). Port Phillip, Vic., 6 m deep (Macpherson, 13.x.1957; ADU, A21936). Crawfish Rock, Westernport Bay, Vic., 5–10 m deep (Watson, 29.viii.1971; ADU, A39378). Greens Beach, N. Tas., drift (Womersley, 9.xi.1982; ADU, A55572). Devon-port, Tas., drift (Womersley, 23.x.1986; ADU, A57457).

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

Distribution: From Cottesloe, W. Aust. to Western Port, Vic. (Garnet 1971, p. 94) and the north coast of Tasmania.

Taxonomic notes: M. integrifolium is essentially a deep water eastern species, drift specimens being not uncommon on South Australian, Victorian and N. Tasmanian coasts. The fronds are relatively narrow, vary greatly in degree of serrations, and have small, scattered, conceptacles. Some slender specimens approach M. leptophyllum, but are distinguished by their scattered conceptacles.

References:

GARNET, J.R. (1971). Check-list No. 6-Marine and Freshwater Algae. In The Wildflowers of Wilson's Promontory National Park. pp. 93–97. (Lothian: Melbourne.)

HARVEY, W.H. (1859b). Algae. In Hooker, J.D., The Botany of the Antarctic Voyage. Part III. Flora Tasmaniae. Vol. 2, pp. 282–343, Plates 185–196.

NIZAMUDDIN, M. & WOMERSLEY, H.B.S. (1967) The morphology and taxonomy of Myriodesma (Fucales). Nova Hedwigia 12, 373–383, Plates 69–73.

NIZAMUDDIN, M. (1962d). Structure and development of Myriodesma (Fucales). Bot. Gaz. 124, 68–74.

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

Author: H.B.S. Womersley

Publication: Womersley, H.B.S. (14 December, 1987)
The Marine Benthic Flora of Southern Australia
Part II
©Board of the Botanic Gardens and State Herbarium, Government of South Australia

Illustrations in Womersley Part II, 1997: FIGS 152, 155E.

Figure 152   enlarge

Fig. 152. Myriodesma integrifolium A. Slender form (ADU, A55572). B. Broader form (ADU, A37640).

Figure 155   enlarge

Fig. 155. A. Platythalia quercifolia (ADU, A30788). End of a lateral branch with scattered conceptacles. B. Platythalia angustifolia (ADU, A30988). Apex of a branch with laterals containing submarginal conceptacles. C. Myriodesma leptophyllum (ADU, A57326). Upper branches with conceptacles. D. Myriodesma serrulatum (ADU, A51221). Upper branches with raised conceptacles. E. Myriodesma integrifolium (ADU, A57457). Upper branches with conceptacles.

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