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Electronic Flora of South Australia Species Fact Sheet

Sphacelaria chorizocarpa Sauvageau 1900: 312 (R42), fig. 11.

Phylum Phaeophyta – Order Sphacelariales – Family Sphacelariaceae

Selected citations: Womersley 1967: 197. FIG. 49G–K

Thallus (Fig. 49G) medium brown, 2–3 mm long, forming a turf on the branches of Cystophora monilifera, with the base of the axes penetrating the host meristoderm. Branching (Fig. 49G) relatively sparse to moderate, irregular, with laterals at narrow angles; phaeophycean hairs occasional. Axes (Fig. 49H–K) (10–) 12–18 (–20) µm in diameter with segments L/B (1.5–) 2–3 (–3.5), laterals slightly less; longitudinal walls (usually one, rarely two) present in most segments, occasionally absent in odd segments and near base and apices of filaments; secondary transverse walls absent; pericysts absent.

Reproduction: Reproduction by unilocular sporangia (Fig. 49H,J) in rows of 2–5, sessile, on short laterals, developing sympodially, ovoid, (25–) 30–40 µm long and 16–25 µm in diameter; plurilocular organs (Fig. 49I,K) ovoid, pedicellate, borne either directly on the branches or axillary on a uniaxial filament, singly or in clusters of 2–3, 20–40 µm long and 16–30 µm in diameter.

Type from Busselton, Geographe Bay, W. Aust. (Preiss), on Cystophora monilifera; in Herb. Thuret, PC.


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

Distribution: Only known from the type and from Salmon Bay, Rottnest I., W. Aust. (Smith 34 on C. monilifera, 12.xii.1945; ADU, A2099).

Taxonomic notes: Sphacelaria chorizocarpa is closely related to S. bracteata and further studies are needed on their distinctions. The former, which is only known from Cystophora monilifera on the south-west coast of Western Australia, has generally longer segments in the axes and branches and the known collections include both plurilocular and unilocular plants. "Marine Algae of Southern Australia" No. 33, previously distributed as S. chorizocarpa, is now considered to be large specimens of S. bracteata.

References:

SAUVAGEAU, C. (1900–1914). Remarques sur les Sphacélariacées. This was published as follows: pp. 1–51, J. de Bot. 14 (1900); pp. 51–167, Ibid. 15 (1901); pp. 167–228, Ibid. 16 (1902); pp. 228–332, Ibid. 17 (1903); pp. 332–348, Ibid. 18 (1904); pp. 348–480? (1904) and pp. 481–634 (1914), separately published with the above reprinted, 1914. (Bordeaux.)

WOMERSLEY, H.B.S. (1967). A critical survey of the marine algae of southern Australia. II. Phaeophyta. Aust. J. Bot. 15, 189–270.

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
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