Ulva clathrata (Roth) C.Agardh

Scientific Description

Habit and structure. Thallus light to medium green, erect but often flaccid, 2–8(–20) cm high, basally attached or becoming loose-lying, usually much and irregularly branched but often with almost simple branches from near the base, branches usually 1–3(–5) mm broad, sometimes very slender but mostly pluriseriate. Cells mostly in longitudinal rows but not in prominent transverse rows, square to rectangular or often rounded in surface view, 12–16(–20) µm long and (5–)10–16 µm broad; chloroplast often occupying only part of the cell in surface view and lobed or dentate, with 2–4 (–6) pyrenoids.

Reproduction. Generations isomorphic, gametophytes dioecious and slightly anisogamous; apomictic development of gametes can occur.

Distribution. Cosmopolitan.

[After Womersley, Mar. Benthic Fl. Southern Australia I: 157 (1984), as Enteromorpha clathrata]