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Caulerpa obscura Sond.

Reference
Bot.Zeit. 50 (1845)
Conservation Code
Not threatened
Naturalised Status
Native to Western Australia
Name Status
Current
Image

Scientific Description

Habit and structure. Stolon robust, (1–)2 mm in diameter, cartilaginous, bearing a sparse to moderate covering of simple or basally furcate, terete to tapering, spinous or rounded-tipped ramuli 1–2(–4) mm long, and 200–300 µm in diameter, directed forward towards the stolon apex, epilithic. Erect primary fronds dark green, with usually simple, occasionally branched axes, usually 10–25(–30) cm high and 2–5(–6) cm across; axes terete, 0.7–2 mm in diameter, bearing on all sides dense second-order laterals 1–3(–4) cm long which bear numerous ramuli irregularly arranged or sometimes tending to lie more-or-less in two rows; second-order laterals 350–450 µm in diameter. Ramuli 2–7(–10) mm long and 250–350 µm in diameter, terete, simple or furcate just below their apices, tapering abruptly to the tip which bears 1–3 single or divided spines.

Distribution. From Yanchep Beach. W. Aust., to Walkerville, Vic., and around Tas.

Habitat. Common in pools on rock platforms and in the upper sublittoral, under rough to moderate wave action, and recorded to 35 m deep.

[After Womersley, Mar. Benthic Fl. Southern Australia I: 265 (1984)]

John Huisman & Cheryl Parker, 3 August 2021

Distribution

IBRA Regions
Esperance Plains, Geraldton Sandplains, Swan Coastal Plain, Warren.
IBRA Subregions
Geraldton Hills, Perth, Recherche, Warren.
IMCRA Regions
Abrolhos Islands, Central West Coast, Leeuwin-Naturaliste, WA South Coast.
Local Government Areas (LGAs)
Augusta Margaret River, Cockburn, Dandaragan, Esperance, Greater Geraldton, Irwin, Joondalup, Rockingham, Wanneroo.