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Service Notice

The Western Australian Herbarium’s collections management system, WAHerb, and DBCA’s taxonomic names application, WACensus, have been set to read-only mode since 1 October 2025. Recent taxonomic changes are not reflected in Florabase, herbarium collections, or in the census. We are hoping to be able to reinstate services around December 15; we will provide an update at that time.

The notice period started at 9:00 am on Wednesday, 1 October 2025 +08:00 and will end at 12:00 pm on Monday, 15 December 2025 +08:00.

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Herposiphonia pectinella (Harv.) Falkenb.

Reference
Rhodomelac.Golfes Neapel 315 (1901)
Conservation Code
Not threatened
Naturalised Status
Native to Western Australia
Name Status
Current

Scientific Description

Habit and structure. Thallus light red-brown, slender, erect but flaccid, 1–6 cm high, determinate laterals radially to pectinately arranged with 3 between indeterminate branches, lower axes attached by rhizoids; epiphytic. Structure. Pericentral cells 6–8(–9), axes 80–110 µm in diameter with segments L/D 2–4, determinate laterals 2–4 mm long, 45–60 µm in diameter, segments L/D (2–)3–4. Trichoblasts (juvenile) on determinate laterals. Rhizoids cut off from pericentral cells, unicellular with digitate haptera. Cells multinucleate; rhodoplasts discoid to elongate.

Reproduction. Procarps on a lower cell of trichoblasts, with a 4-celled carpogonial branch. Carposporophytes with a basal fusion cell and branched gonimoblast with clavate terminal carposporangia 30–40 µm in diameter. Cystocarps borne on determinate laterals 150–220 µm in diameter, slightly urceolate, 400–800 µm in diameter; pericarp ostiolate, 2 cells thick, ecorticate, outer cells isodiametric, irregularly shaped. Spermatangial organs unknown. Tetrasporangia unknown.

Distribution.King George Sound, W. Aust., to Western Port, Vic. Record from Rottnest I., W. Aust. doubtful.

[After Womersley, Mar. Benthic Fl. Southern Australia IIID: 297–299 (2003)]