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Amphiroa fragilissima (L.) J.V.Lamour.

Reference
Hist.Polyp.Corall. 298 (1816)
Conservation Code
Not threatened
Naturalised Status
Native to Western Australia
Name Status
Current
Image

Scientific Description

Habit and structure. Thallus to 5 cm tall, calcified; branching predominantly or entirely dichotomous and multiplanar. Intergenicula terete, to 9 mm long, 0.3–0.7 mm wide. Genicula invariably present at branching points or absent from up to half, composed of core region and peripheral region cells; core region containing 2–7 arching tiers of cells. Calcified collars absent.

Reproduction. Tetrasporangial conceptacles uniporate, scattered over intergenicula and protruding above the surrounding surface. Conceptacle pore canals flanked by filaments projecting laterally towards the pore canal; rings of large block-shaped cells absent. Mature conceptacle chambers 170–260 μm diam. and 95–130 μm tall; tetrasporangia 15–25 μm diam. and 40–60 μm long. Gametangial and carposporangial thalli not known from Australia.

Distribution. Widespread in most seas.

Habitat. Epilithic in the intertidal down to 10 m.

[After A.S. Harvey, W.J. Woelkerling & J.M. Huisman in Algae of Australia: Marine Benthic Algae of North-western Australia, 2. Red Algae: 104–105 (2018)]

John Huisman & Olga Nazarova, 3 August 2021

Distribution

IBRA Regions
Carnarvon, Dampierland, Northern Kimberley.
IBRA Subregions
Berkeley, Cape Range, Mitchell, Pindanland.
IMCRA Regions
Bonaparte Gulf, Canning, Kimberley, Pilbara (nearshore), Pilbara (offshore).
Local Government Areas (LGAs)
Ashburton, Broome, Carnarvon, Derby-West Kimberley, Karratha, Wyndham-East Kimberley.