Cladophora lehmanniana (Lindenb.) Kütz.

Scientific Description

Habit and structure. Thallus light to medium green, single or in clusters forming pompons when small and fastigiate tufts when large 2–15(–30) cm high with the pseudodichotomous axes arising from a base of matted rhizoids from the lowest cells; epilithic or epiphytic; filaments tapering only slightly, much branched from almost every cell above with straight to falcate or refract and often unilaterally arranged branchlets. Growth acropetal and mainly apical above, with intercalary divisions in the mid and lower thallus cells thus separating the laterals by 2–8 cells but with few branches arising below intercalary cross walls; each parent cell bearing 1–2(–3) laterals mostly at an angle of 45° or more, sometimes less; basal cross walls of laterals oblique to parent cell, later often becoming almost horizontal. Apical cells (80–)100–120(–160) µm in diameter, L/B 3–8, cylindrical, sometimes slightly inflated, with rounded apices; ultimate branch cells (85–)100–120 µm in diameter, L/B 2–6; lower thallus cells (140–)180–220(–250) µm in maximum diameter, L/B 2–7; ratio of lower cell to apical cell diameters 1.5–2.5; cell walls thin to moderately thick (10–15 µm) near the base.

Reproduction. By somewhat inflated apical or subapical cells forming zooidangia.

Distribution. Warm temperate Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts of Europe. In southern Australia, from Geraldton, W. Aust., to Walkerville, Vic., and around Tas.

Habitat. In pools and shallow water under moderate water movement.

[After van den Hoek & Womersley in Womersley, Mar. Benthic Fl. Southern Australia I: 198 (1984)]